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Dan Wheeler has been given the Astros closers job on a platter, more than once. The proverbial “You can lead a horse to water…” situation.

Wheeler’s last 15 innings… 22 hits, 19 runs and a 6.28 ERA! Embattled Brad Lidge, equally ineffective in the closers role, is due back from the DL soon. Expect a battle of futility for the right be called Astros closer as Lidge and Wheeler continue their ‘fear of failure’ game of hot potato.

I would advise fantasy owners to steer clear of any Astros bullpen pitcher.

Other Closer Notes:
As if on cue, Jorge Julio choked in his first post-Fuentes demotion appearance. Meanwhile Manny Corpas shined. Expect Corpas to get the next Colorado save opportunity.

Baltimore Orioles interim manager Dave Trembley informed closer Chris Ray that he would receive a night off this past weekend. Reportedly, Ray was relieved to be relieved…..not exactly what I would call, “closer’s mentality”. Ray did proceed to convert a save opportunity last night, so perhaps the break did some good.

Colorado Rockies skipper Clint Hurdle has decided to give Brian Fuentes a temporary break from his closing duties. Are you feeling lucky and need saves? Roll the dice on a couple of failed closers in LaTroy Hawkins and Jorge Julio…or take a flier on the upside of Manny Corpas.

Fuentes has been serving up batting practice of late; 2 1/3 innings pitched, 19 batters faced, 11 hits surrendered…including back to back nights of walk-off home runs.

Look for Fuentes to regain the closers role in the near future, and for the Rockies to utilize a closer-by-committee platoon in the meantime.

Tough to say who might be the best option to pick-up for a quick saves injection. Julio has previous closing experience, although not all that effective, and has pitched well of late (his season numbers are a bit scary though). Corpas has nice upside, but no real closing experience.

If you pick up Julio, temper your expectations and plan on at least one “bad ERA day”.

I would like to apologize for the long delay since the last post. Shuffling some writers, looking for new ones….

Fantasy football is just around the corner and positional previews will be coming soon!

Roger Clemens was scheduled to start on Monday against the Chicago White Sox. Fox Sportscasters Tim McCarver and Joe Buck reported that Clemens has been scratched from his upcoming start.

Citing groin soreness, incurred in his last minor league start, Buck reported that Clemens may miss 1 to 2 weeks.

Kei Igawa will be recalled from AAA Columbus to make the start on Monday.

Not a great sign that Clemens is already incurring problems from minor injuries. However, for the many have shown the patience in keeping Clemens on their fantasy rosters, a couple more weeks isn’t going to make that big of a difference.

Monitor the situation closely and act accordingly. Regarding Igawa, he still remains a low-value fantasy starting pitcher, but could provide value in deep mixed or AL only leagues.

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).