Joba and the Red Sox

Sad news for Yankees fans, Joba Chamberlain was arrested for DUI in Nebrakska. The last time this happened within the organization it was Steve Swindle and we all saw his career go up in smoke. Doesn’t seem like Joba is going to miss any time, and I doubt this hurts his development but its not a good thing at all.

Better news though for Yankees fans comes from this article by John Heyman in which he basically says the Yankees will be going after everyone with a pulse this offseason and throwing all of their money at them. Either Cashman has finally realized minor leaguers are unproven midget versions of career backups or he has completely lost control of this organization. Either way, this will probably help the Yankees. 

And finally the Red Sox won last night again, forcing a game 7 in Tampa. My original prediction for this series was Sox in 7 and I’m sticking with it. I did think that Kazmir would slam the doors on the Sox a couple of days ago, but I guess that proves how impossible it is to predict individual baseball games. 

I’ll try to write something about how the projections are going, but lets just say they are going to take a while! Right now I’m on my fourth player on my first team but I’m speading things up a bit and the kit will be ready on time.

Quentin most likely out for regular season

White Sox outfielder Carlos Quentin will have season ending wrist surgery after fracturing his wrist in frustration. Quentin hit his wrist with a bat in disgust after fouling off a pitch during Monday’s game. Quentin will have a screw inserted into his wrist and will be reevaluated a few weeks from now, most likely at the end of the regular season. It is still unknown whether he will play in the playoffs.

Quentin has had a breakout, MVP calibere season in 2008 hitting .100 points higher in OBP, .200 more in SLG, and hitting 31 more home runs. Quentin has also improved his batting eye significantly this year leading to some of those improvements. His loss will hurt your chances if you are close in a race, but for most teams you will be fine.

Labor Day N&N

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Justin Upton left Monday’s game with a head injury after he was hit with a pickoff attempt in the eight inning. Upton walked off the field under his own power, however the severity of the injury is still unknown. Upton has struggled this season after and extremely hot start, however he has showed he has great talent and can produce at the major league level. If your in a keeper league you hang on to this guy no matter what (or trade him), I one year leagues I think you have to wait and see (that is if he is owned in your league).

Ben Sheets of the Milwaukee Brewers left Monday’s game with a tight groin. Sheets is day-to-day and may make his next start, however even if he doesn’t it really isn’t cause for concern as of now.

Chris Young was activated from the DL on Monday and is set to start against the Dodgers in about 20 minutes. Young has been making strides in recent years, however his K/BB rate declined significantly so far this season. Lets see what Young does tonight, hopefully he can stay healthy for the stretch run.

And the USC Trojans, soon to be number 1 team in the nation, demolished the Virginia Cavilers 52-7 in their opening game. Mark Sanchez went 26 for 35 for 338 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception. One of those touchdowns was a 49 yard bomb to Ronald Johnson in the endzone.

AL News & Notes (8/27)

New York – Yankees Pitcher Joba Chamberlain said that he doesn’t believe that he’ll need to go on a minor league rehab assignment simply to face hitters before coming off the DL. He’s set to throw 45 pitches in his next session on Thursday.  Joba may be able to return early next week.  It is not set whether Joba will return as a Starter or a Reliever.

Boston – J.D. Drew has been placed on the DL, in response, the Red Sox have traded for Mark Kotsay.  With Drew hitting the shelf, give a look to Cruz or Dickerson, see more in NL News & Notes.

Texas – Josh Hamilton was out of the lineup on Wednesday.  Do not worry, it was due to an abscessed tooth, and should not cause any long-term problems.  It may annoy him, which he should be able to handle with a simple anti-biotic or something of that nature.

Los Angeles – The Angels Chone Figgins’ missed Wednesday’s game with irritation in his left big toe.  The Angels also lost both Howie Kendrick due to a Left Hamstring injury, and Erik Aybar to the same reason.  The severities of these injuries is not known, we will be updating these players statuses Thursday Night.

NL News & Notes (8/27)

Pittsburgh – Craig Hansen has been optioned to AAA Indianapolis in favor of RHP Jesse Chavez.  On Tuesday night, Hansen walked in the tying and go-ahead runs against the Cubs, he was sent to AAA the next morning.  In 30 1/3 innings with Boston this season, Hansen had 3.48 tRA, with Pittsburgh (10 IP), he had a horrible 9.35 tRA. In those combined 40 1/3 innings, he had a horrible K/BB rate of 0.80.  If you own this guy, I can’t imagine any active RP that are available in your league.

St. Louis – Chris Carpenter (shoulder) will have a bullpen session Wednesday, but he continues to describe weakness around his shoulder.  With St. Louis’ playoffs hopes fading away in the 2008 season, if they cannot make a run, and if Carpenter does not feel 100% expect Carpenter to be shut down for the rest of the 2008 campaign.

Atlanta – Mark Kotsay has been traded to the Boston Red Sox, resulting in the Braves calling up Outfielder Josh Anderson.  Kotsay does not have enough fantasy value to be owned in many leagues, but if he is, give a look to Chris Dickerson or Nelson Cruz, both succeeding in their short-campaigns in the bigs after very successful minor league tenors.

Houston – Kazuo Matsui is expected to return from the DL on Monday after fielding grounders and hitting from a tee on Tuesday.  Matsui is not much more than an average fantasy player, he should be able to return and help your team with his solid .763 OPS.

Los Angeles – The Dodgers have recalled Blake Dewitt from AAA on Wednesday.  Although failing in his first attempt with the Dodgers this season (.688 OPS), he has succeeded in AAA with an OPS of .850. (Dewitt was 11-19 in his last 4 games with AAA Las Vegas including a 5-for-5 Sunday.