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Colorado Rockies right fielder Brad Hawpe has homered the past three games continuing his hot streak. Many fantasy owners have shied from Hawpe as the big left-handed hitter is sometimes benched when the Rockies face lefty pitching. If he continues to hit, it will be very difficult for the Rockies to keep him out of the lineup.

Owned in just 32% of ESPN leagues, there is a very good chance that Hawpe is available in your free agent pool. If you need help in the outfield, Hawpe would be an excellent pick-up in all fantasy formats.

Sporting a .292 AVG with 8 HR’s and 32 RBI’s on the season, his last 6 games have been off the charts; .375 AVG 3 HR and 7 RBI’s.

While many fantasy owners will likely dismiss Hawpe, citing the recent hot streak and the possibility of platooning, his numbers don’t lie. If he continues to hit, he will play against lefties as well and you can expect a solid average, .290 and above with good power numbers.

Age and injury; The dreaded ‘double-whammy’ in any sport.

Slow-starting Mets first baseman Carlos Delgado is coming off wrist and elbow injuries and will turn 35 in late June. The dreaded ‘double-whammy’.

Not surprisingly, after a slow start to the ‘07 campaign, fantasy owners began to lose faith in the sluggers ability and more and more owners began to trade for low value or drop to free agency outright.

A career .280 hitter, Delgado’s contact rate has dropped over the years, but his power numbers are steady and reliable. Over the past 10 seasons Delgado has went yard at least 30 times and registered 90 + RBI. As the past week indicates, Delgado still has plenty of pop, and you can bank on HR’s and RBI’s as he hits in the middle of the potent Mets lineup.

Delgado’s line the last 6 games: 11 hits, 4 HR, 9 RBI, 1 SB and a .440 BA.

It is possible that Delgado is sitting on the free agency list in your league, I just plucked him in one of my leagues. If so, grab him and enjoy the free power numbers. It may be hard to buy low right now, with the hot streak, but it’s possible. Alternatively, if you have stashed Delgado and are set at first, sell high based on the smoking-hot last 6 games.

I feel sorry for Phillies fans.

Never thought I would say that about folks that used to boo Mike Schimdt, but I really do.

The injury bug has hit them and apparently, they have a manager that is better suited for the WWF than the MLB.

Following his early season tirade, I was simply thinking, “dam….he has some seriously high blood pressure”. When he sent Brett Myers to the pen, I scratched my head…but thought “dam….he must be crazy like a fox”. After tonight (game yet concluded) I have to think he is just not that good.

Top of the 10th, 2 out, 2 on…….and you send a pitcher up to pinch hit? WTF?

Yes, the bench had been depleted, early I might add, but the best right-handed bat (vs. LH T. Tankersly) is a pitcher?! WTF?

The only bat left on the bench, in the top of the 10th inning, was Abraham Nunez. Perhaps I am simply uneducated about an injury that may be present, but it makes no sense. Nunez has a hot bat, is a switch hitter, and available. Yet Manuel sends in a pitcher?

Educate me Philly folk…..first on what makes Manuel tick? From the looks of him, I would suppose bacon. Secondly…why in the hell did you all boo Schmidt??

At least you all have cheesesteaks….

Seems the speculative moves by fantasy managers to pick-up the next Cubs closer are all for naught. According to an AP article running on ESPN.com, Ryan Dempster will remain in the bullpen.

Cubs Manager Lou Pinella had decided to place Dempter in the rotation, but called a meeting with the oft-maligned closer to inform him he was staying put.

Notes:
Looking at the ESPN add/drop list leads me to scratch my head a bit.

Fausto Carmona is only owned in 27.7% of ESPN leagues? Wow. Carmona has pitched as well as anyone of late and Peter Gammons has been quoted as saying he thinks Carmona has the most dominant stuff in the AL right now. If available…what are you waiting for?

Looks like one bad outing has fantasy owners saying, “There’s the Jason Marquis I know”. Marquis’ % owned has dropped below 50% despite having a tremendous start to the season. I would suggest you hold for now. While he has been a fantasy killer in the past, changes in scenery can have tremendous impacts on players. One bad outing does not a flop make……yet.

Others to look at with low owned %’s:
Kevin Gregg…new sheriff in the Marlins bullpen….for now. Gil Meche is showing more than some thought he had….solid numbers from the Royals SP. Jhonny Peralta is beginning to show the promise, .281 10HR 31 RBI with SS eligibility. Kevin Youkilis continues his hot streak with a 13 game hit streak and at least 1 RBI in the last 8 games. Youkilis was a sleeper contributor last year and you can expect solid numbers from the BoSox first baseman.

Since my earlier post on Jon Rauch, he has recorded two saves. I would suggest going and picking him up immediately if you have a weak link on your roster to give.

Rauch has pitched very well, as his season line proves. Don’t be surprised to see Manny Acta enact the “not broke, don’t fix” mantra with his closer situation.

Rauch’s solid performances could also prompt the Nationals to deal Cordero, if they are in fact fielding inquiries. Some could also speculate that the Nationals could deal Rauch, however taking salary numbers into consideration, Cordero is the far more likely candidate to be dealt.

Hold Cordero, pick up Rauch and hope Zimmerman and company heat up.

Chad Cordero has been activated from the bereavement list, and many assumed he would slide right back into the closer’s role for the hapless Washington Nationals.

However, as Bill Ladson reports for MLB.com, Manny Acta has thrown the fantasy community a curveball. Acta states in Ladson’s article that Cordero will be eased back into the closer role.

Cordero said he had bullpen sessions while he was in California, but manager Manny Acta said that Cordero will be eased back into the closer’s role. For now, Cordero will be a middle innings/setup guy, while Jon Rauch will remain the closer.

This development is interesting as Rauch’s ascension to closer was facilitated by a death in Cordero’s family….not an injury. There is no question that the health of Cordero’s grandmother weighed on the pitcher’s mind, however, the fact remains he was/is physically healthy.

Is there an underlying injury? Or do the rumors of a Cordero trade suddenly gain credence?

While Cordero’s line for the season is not impressive, he has proven to be a viable and productive fantasy option in the past, even as a member of the woeful Washington Nationals. Stash him on your roster and wait it out. If you are in a deep league, or NL only format, pick up Rauch, with a solid season line of 20.1 IP, 3.98 ERA and a good BB/K ratio (3/12).

MLB.com has reported that Oakland Athletics closer Huston Street has been placed on the 15 day disabled list. Prompted by an irritated ulnar nerve, the move is retroactive to May 13th.

Considering the injury is centered around Street’s throwing-arm elbow, expect the A’s to proceed with caution in bringing him back.

Coupled with the hip injury of next-in-line closer Justin Duchscherer, where a disabled list stint is not a far-fetched possiblity, Street’s injury is particularly problematic for fantasy owners.

If you are desperate for saves, or are a Street owner, take a flier on Kiko Calero. While Calero’s line for the young season is not particularly impressive (16.1 IP, 5.51 ERA) his BB/K ratio is solid at 12 K’s/3 BB’s. You can expect his ERA to drop with more work as his highest ERA during his 4 year career has been 3.41.

With a respectable starting staff, led by the under appreciated Dan Haren, Calero could be in line for multiple save opportunities in his stint as closer. Should he falter early Joe Kennedy, Jay Marshall or perhaps Alan Embree could garner some save opportunities.

Other Closer Notes
Blue Jays reliever Jeremy Accardo has been named closer. His permanent closer status coupled with continued scoreless inning streak and impressive pitching line make him a must pick-up in all league formats.

If you are the owner of any current White Sox player, I’m sure you’re thinking when this power outage will be over.  Konerko, Crede, Dye, all have averages around .200 with little power so far this year.  Konerko hit 2 homers this week and Crede hit one as well.  Dye had to come down to earth after that monster season a year ago.  If you have any of these cats, be patient, they’ll come around.

All the hype surrounding the Red Sox rotation was DiceK, maybe Schilling, but the most consistent and best pitcher has to be Josh Beckett.  He recorded his major league leading 7th  win last night in dominating fashion.  His first pitch of the game was promptly deposited in the OF seats by AlexRios, but settled in and beat the Jays.  If healthy, he can be a guy who can be a streak stopper during the prime of this career.

I have to mention that Barry Bonds hit number 745 last night to move within 10 of the record.   There’s no doubt he is going to break the record, and whether you like him or not, he is an extraordianry talent we may not see again.

Tom Glavine keeps plugging away.  7IP 1 ER and 5K’s last night to improve to 4-1.  I know I was guilty 2 years ago of putting him on the waiver wire and happy to do so.  He has come back to become a solid starter in mixed league.  Until then…

Ryan Howard was given a rest until Friday at the earliest by manager Charlie Manuel. It is nothing serious, just some aches and pains and the Phills just want to make sure he is 100% and not a reoccuring injury. For those who have him, this is a tough decision to make a roster move. Hopefully you have a bench player to fill in until the weekend.

Another young superstar is hurting, only he landed on the DL. Joe Mauer suffered a strained quad and will be out for a couple weeks. With the catcher position being thin, I wouldnt necessarily be looking for trade offers to replace him, but a free agent pick up should tide your team over until he returns.

For my 2 cents on the Clemens signing. Clemens is one of those “if you had 1 pitcher for 1 game” type guys. Fierce, hardnosed, and a great clubhouse guys. I think this is a perfect fit for right now in his career. The Yanks genuinely wanted him back and he wanted to come back. The blank check helped also, but this will make the AL East very interesting this summer and not a runaway as it was turning out to be. I stand by my prediction and say the BoSox still win the division, but not until the final week of the season.

By the way, Clemens says he’ll prepare as if his first start will be around the end of May, 1st of June. I’ll leave you with this, guess who and where the Yanks play on June 1st. Until then…

In a bizarre, but somewhat expected, move Roger Clemens addressed Yankee Stadium in the 7th inning.

The YES Network is reporting they will have an interview with Clemens before the end of the game.

No reports on money have been made. Nor is a timetable for his return available.

From the fantasy perspective, go get him if he is available. The seemingly ageless Clemens is a strikeout and ERA machine sure to help any fantasy team, especially with some run support from a uber-solid Yankees lineup.