The Pirates entered the 2008 season with a bit of optimism. Well, at least when it came to their pitching staff. Pittsburgh felt the strength of the team was in its rotation and bullpen. It wasn't hard to see why. Tom Gorzelanny was coming off a 14-win season, Ian Snell was a developing ace and Matt Capps was a highly underrated but effective closer.
Fast forward to mid-July. Gorzelanny has been optioned to the minors. Snell has been focused on signing an extension more than pitching. And Capps is on the DL until at least early September with a shoulder injury. Pittsburgh has the league's worst ERA (5.26) and the opposition is hitting .291 against its pitching staff, also the worst mark in the majors.
|
|
|
Paul Maholm is quietly putting together a solid stretch of starts for the lowly Pirates.
(US Presswire)
|
|
Amid all the gloom and doom in the Steel City, there has been one shining beacon in the Pirates' rotation. All Pittsburgh wanted from
Paul Maholm, who was entering his third full season in the majors, was to keep them close in games as a back-end starter. He has gone above and beyond the call of duty.
"Maholm's been a breath of fresh air," catcher Ryan Doumit told MLB.com. "He's been our ace the majority of the year. We love it when he's out there."
Maholm handed the Astros an 8-2 loss Tuesday and took over the club lead in wins with seven. He also leads the starters with a 3.92 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. A huge improvement for a guy that suffered 15 losses in 2007 while posting a 5.03 ERA.
It hasn't been all roses for Maholm in 2008. He opened the season with a 2-5 record and 5.11 ERA in his first 10 starts. He looked exactly like the kid who struggled the previous two seasons (18-25 record).
However in his last 10 starts, Maholm has had stuff Cy Young candidates are made of. Maholm is 5-1 with a 2.90 ERA. He has allowed more than two earned runs just three times in that span, hasn't failed to go six innings and has lasted eight innings four times, including Tuesday's win as he allowed one run and five hits -- all singles.
"I am not trying to overhaul my mechanics," Maholm said. "I am trying to be consistent. Consistency helps you make your pitches and go out there and last long into the game."
The 6-2, 230-ponund left-hander has been effective lately because of a heavy sinker and nasty breaking pitches. He has also done a great job of keeping the ball low in the zone. Houston recorded 14 groundouts Tuesday against Maholm. However, manager John Russell cites Maholm's success from what we don't see -- his preparation leading up to his scheduled starts.
"(He's become) a student of the game," Russell told MLB.com. "He has taught himself a lot about pitching. He's a guy that you feel real comfortable with in certain situations. To do what he did just goes to show what he's been doing all year and what he's doing between starts."
Maholm does his best work on regular rest. He is 4-1 with a 3.22 ERA in 10 starts this season on four days' rest and was 5-0 with a 2.15 ERA in 2007.
His success this season isn't all that shocking. Maholm was entering his third season as a full-time starter -- the typical timeframe for a breakout campaign -- and he was the 8th overall selection in the 2003 draft. The former Mississippi State hurler was ranked as the ninth-best pitcher by Baseball America in that draft class and the 17th best overall prospect. As with left-handed pitchers, it sometimes takes a little bit longer for them to develop.
The 26-year-old hurler still hasn't convinced Fantasy owners he has the skills for the long haul as his ownership stands at 39 percent. At least he doesn't have to worry about the Pittsburgh organization, because from the front office to his teammates, they all stand behind the Greenwood, Miss., native.
"Every time he takes the hill, we feel extremely confident," Doumit said.
Call to the Bench -- We feel this player might be worthy of adding to Fantasy rosters for the long haul
Chris Davis, 1B/3B, Texas
Owned: 52 percent of leagues
Analysis: What is Davis going to have to do to get respect from Fantasy owners? The Rangers prospect has been up since late June and has done nothing but hit homers (eight in 23 games). He was missing a decent batting average, but in his last 10 games, it has gone from .195 to .278. The Rangers were expected to either option Davis back to the minors or put him in a reserve role upon Hank Blalock's return from the DL, but he has done such a good job, Texas named him their starting first baseman. Add to the fact that he is Fantasy eligible at first and third, Davis' ownership needs to rise.
You're Out! -- We feel this player might have already peaked and his value could be on the decline, so Fantasy owners might want to cut bait ASAP
Josh Willingham, OF, Florida
Owned: 72 percent
Analysis: Someone needs to reach out and hug Willingham and tell him it's going to be alright. The Hammer was one of the hottest hitters in baseball in April as he started the season with a .341 average, five homers and 14 RBI. He made all the fans in South Florida forget about Miguel Cabrera. Too bad a recurring back injury derailed his perfect season. Willingham has been dealing with back stiffness since 2006 and it reared its ugly head again in late April. Hammer went on the DL until late June and hasn't been the same hitter since being activated. His average has dropped to .260, he has just two homers in 23 games and is hitting well below .200 since he return. Unless Willingham finds a miracle treatment, it could be a long second half.
GIDPs -- We feel this player might not warrant as much Fantasy consideration as he is receiving and should be avoided in most instances
Willie Harris, UTL, Washington
Owned: 7 percent of leagues
Analysis: Harris has been the savior in center field for the Nationals since Lastings Milledge went on the DL. His glove has been a real asset to Washington, but his bat has also come around. Harris has hit safely in seven of his last eight games. He is 14-for-28 (.500) with three homers and 10 RBI in that span. His batting average has gone from .201 to .253. Milledge is on the rehab trail and should be back in the majors shortly. Harris will then likely move to left field as long as he is still swinging a hot bat. Even so, he is a career .247 hitter and has never shown this type of prolonged success in his career. Chalk this up to a hot streak.
Scouting -- We feel this player is on the verge of being a Fantasy reliable option, but still needs to be monitored over the next few weeks
Melvin Mora, 3B, Baltimore
Owned: 39 percent of leagues
Analysis: A little rest has gone a long way for Mora, who is red hot after the All-Star break. In the first six games after the break, Mora is hitting .500 (12-for-24) with four homers and 14 RBI. He has a .556 OBP and 1.083 slugging percentage in that span. As good as Mora has been out of the break, he is still hitting just .251 on the season. Also, his power numbers have been down during the second half in recent seasons. He had just two homers in the second half last season and five homers in the second half in 2006. Mora could just be a hitter in the zone right now.
Stopgap corner -- We feel this player might be worth using for the upcoming scoring period
Glen Perkins, SP, Minnesota
Owned: 40 percent of leagues
Analysis: Perkins is coming off one of his worst starts of the season Wednesday against the Yankees. He allowed season-high eight hits and five runs. Not exactly a ringing endorsement, but if you are looking for a stopgap option for Fantasy Week 18 (July 28-Aug. 3), Perkins is a viable option. He is expected to face the White Sox on Tuesday and then square off against the Indians Aug. 3. Both starts are at home, and Perkins is 4-0 with a 2.63 ERA in his last four home starts. He suffered a no decision against Chicago this season, but is 1-0 against Cleveland. His first start will also come with an extra day of rest, and Perkins is 3-0 with a 3.00 ERA in three starts this season with extra rest. One last bonus -- Perkins is also relief pitcher eligible.
Farm Boys -- This segment is for those long-term keeper owners looking for the next Fantasy superstar
Chuck James, SP Atlanta
Owned: 3 percent of leagues
Analysis: James has been toiling in the minors since May because he was ineffective earlier this season for Atlanta. It was partly because of a strained rotator cuff. Well, the Braves might want to give James another look. At Triple-A Richmond, James is 4-5 with a 2.56 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 70 1/3 innings. The left-hander is 3-4 with a 2.87 ERA and 55 strikeouts in his last 53 1/3 innings. Atlanta sent James down to the minors to work on his mechanics and he has accepted the challenge. Jo-Jo Reyes and Charlie Morton have been struggling at the back-end of the Braves' rotation, so there is a chance James might return to the majors in the coming weeks.
Doctor's Report -- This segment highlights a player on the verge of coming off the DL and ready to make an immediate Fantasy impact.
Anibal Sanchez, SP, Florida
Owned: 7 percent of leagues
Analysis: Sanchez is on the verge of resuming his major league career after having not pitched in the majors since May 2007 because of a torn rotator cuff. The Marlins were expected to evaluate Sanchez after his final rehab start Wednesday and decide whether or not he will return to the rotation Monday against the Mets. However, his game at Double-A Carolina was postponed and his return to the majors could also be delayed a few days. Sanchez is 1-0 with a 2.57 ERA in his first four rehab starts. He also has struck out 18 in 21 innings. The right-hander looks a lot like the kid who threw a no-hitter in 2006 and posted a 10-3 record, 2.84 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. Sanchez has topped out at 93 mph in his rehab outings. It's always tough to come back from a serious shoulder operation, but Sanchez has defied the odds thus far. He could be a second-half sleeper if he finds his pre-surgery form.
You can e-mail us your Fantasy Baseball questions to DMFantasyBaseball@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: Waiver Wire in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state.
