Chris Carter

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Waiver Wire Pickups: This week RP Shawn Kelley is our “Special K!”

Posted by fantasyfurnace on June 3, 2013
Posted in: MLB. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

If you take the time to look at the numbers that are provided you on ESPN, Yahoo! , or any fantasy sport site you and your league are a part of, you will be amazed at the gems that can be found…Gems that are going virtually unowned. For example, if we were to tell you that the pitcher with a major league leading 15.34 K’s per 9 innings is owned in just 1% of leagues would that be enough of an attention grabber?

1. Shawn Kelley-RP-Yankees- Here is our “Special K” of the week! This former Mariner had an awful 2-game stretch in his 3rd and 4th appearance back in the beginning of April, giving up 6 earned runs vs Cleveland and Detroit. By April 8th Kelley’s ERA had ballooned to an unseemly 10.12. It has since dropped almost in half as he has let his K’s do the talking for him. So far this season, Kelley has struck out 38 in just 22 1/3 innings. Kelley has helped keep the Bombers in quite a few games this season. For now, he is someone to consider in deeper leagues and A.L. only leagues.

RP Shawn Kelley has been on a strikeout tear with the major league leading K/BB ratio of 15.34/9. Photo: Jeff Kowalsky/European Pressphoto Agency

RP Shawn Kelley has been a strikeout machine, owning the major league leading K/BB ratio of 15.34/9. Photo: Jeff Kowalsky/European Pressphoto Agency

2. Chris Carter-1B,OF-Astros- Those desperate for a player with some power numbers who is virtually unowned in most leagues, Carter is another who has gone unnoticed. Consider this: Carter has 3 more homers (11) than Albert Pujols, and just one less RBI (31). He’s on pace to hit 30 home runs on the season and yet is owned in just 17% of leagues. His batting average (.223) admittedly is holding him back in many leagues, and yet players like Ike Davis of the Mets who only has 5 homers on the season and is batting an anemic .168 is owned in twice as many leagues.

3. Chad Gaudin-SP,RP-Giants- This well traveled veteran who just might set a record for the amount of times he’s been traded (10) since entering the league in 2003, is someone that we’re touting because he not only won his first game on Sunday vs the Cardinals as a starter since Sept. of 2009 when he was with the Yankees, but his ERA (2.21) and WHIP (1.15) are the lowest of his career. Gaudin is staying on as the Giants’ fifth starter while Ryan Vogelsong continues his DL stint. He’ll face the Diamondbacks this weekend and could be a reliable streamer for some owners.

4. Nate Schierholz-OF-Cubs- This is a serviceable outfielder who, not known for his power, has hit more home runs after 150 at bats so far this season (7) than he has in any other other season after 150 ABs. Schierholz with 4 stolen bases out of 6 attempts also has a very respectable .287 batting average. The former 2nd round pick of the S.F. Giants is another little owneed (10%) that is taylor made for those in A.L. only leagues.

5. Yunel Escobar-SS-Rays- A career .280 batter, Escobar has just begun to heat things up with his bat over the past couple of weeks. He had been in a slump and as someone who seems to turn it on late, you can catch this little owned MI (10%) who has scored 10, hit 2 homers and driven in 11 since May 20th. Escobar has also raised his batting average over 30 points over that stretch and has 4 multiple hit games in his last eight. This is the time to grab the former 2nd rounder of the Braves. The 30 year old is just 2 seasons removed from scoring 77 runs, hitting 11 homers and batting .290. You could do worse at this lean position.

#11 SS Yunel Escobar has been on a tear of late and can be had in most leagues. Photo: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

#11 SS Yunel Escobar has been on a tear of late and can be had in most leagues. Photo: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

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Fantasy Baseball- This Week’s Waiver Wire Pickups

Posted by fantasyfurnace on April 14, 2013
Posted in: MLB. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . 3 Comments

The season just began and the injury bug has spread throughout the league. The smarter, more experienced owners have already come up with contingency plans. It isn’t too late to tap the resources of the waiver wire while other owneres are still napping.

In the case of Jose Reyes (ankle) who will probably not be returning until the All-Star break, and who will be to hard to replace with someone of equal talent, the following short stops have been ‘added’ just in Yahoo! leagues:

Jean Segura-Brewers-7542 adds

Marwin Gonzalez-Astros-5859 adds

Jhonny Peralta-Tigers-5211 adds

Jed Lowrie-Athletics-4934 adds

Pete Kozma-Cardinals-3869 adds

*We like Marwin Gonzalez who is available in 90% of leagues as well as Jhonny Peralta who is also widely available (75% of leagues). Stay away from Pete Kozma on the Cardinals unless you are in very deep roto leagues and are in desperate need of a SS as he does not have much power and doesn’t steal any bases.

Chris Carter-1B,OF-Astros- The A’s gave up on Carter in the off season after spending three years as a bench player. What we like about the 26 year old is his home run power. Last season he averaged one round-tripper for every 13.6 at bats (16 HRs in 218 ABs). His downside is his batting average. Even though he is currently hitting .289 he will not be able to sustain such a high % over the long haul. Carter also has dual position eligibility which could come in handy in deeper and A.L. only leagues.

#22 Chris Carter, who came over to the Astros from the A's for Jed Lowrie, has a lot of pop to his bat but hasn't hit for average. Photo: Christian Petersen, Getty Images)

#22 Chris Carter, who came over to the Astros from the A’s for Jed Lowrie, has a lot of pop to his bat but hasn’t hit for average. Photo: Christian Petersen, Getty Images

Travis Hafner-UTIL-Yankees- Best known while playing 10 seasons with the Indians, Haf is filling in for all the bats (and power) that are missing from The Yankees lineup with Teixeira, Granderson, Jeter, and A-Rod all injured. The 35 year old is just two seasons removed from hitting 29 homers in just 118 games. If healthy, Hafner can still bring it however his UTIL status always presents a challenge in some leagues. He has a career .278 batting average and is off to a great start having crushed 3 HRs in just 33 ABs.

Nate Schierholtz-OF-Cubs- For the time being, we are recommending Schieholtz to N.L. league owners only as he is platooning with Scott Hairston in right field. Even though he is seeing slightly more ABs than Hairston, we won’t tout him as someone to grab in all leagues just yet.  If (and when) Schierholtz is given the everyday starting job, he can provide you with 15 HR/15SB potential, but for now, even with his .363 BA, 2 homers, and 2 stolen bases to start this season, we would suggest taking out a flier on him and waiting especially for those in mixed leagues.

#19 Nate Schierholtz celebrates with teammate Anthony Rizzo after hitting a 2-run HR. He has 2 on the year to go along with2 SB & a .363 BA. Photo: Associated Press

#19 Nate Schierholtz celebrates with teammate Anthony Rizzo after hitting a 2-run HR. He has 2 homers on the year to go along with 2 SB & a .363 BA. Photo: Associated Press

Santiago Casilla-RP-Giants- For those of you in deeper leagues and in need of saves even if they are sporatic, keep an eye on Casilla while he fills in occasionally for full time closer Sergio Romo. Manager Bruce Bochy has intimated that he won’t play Romo more than a few days consecutively and plans to rest him more since blowing Friday’s game vs the Cubs. You could realize as many as 3-4 saves a month with Casilla, which could help those starving for saves no matter where they come from.