Pitching Report: Week 12

     Tough time for pitchers these days, dont you think?  I was just going through the list of average draft positions from the beginning of this season, and the top run of pitchers looks like a list from the Red Cross.  On top of the injuries we’ve seen from Brandon Webb (yet another setback in rehab), Jake Peavy (out until August), Scott Kazmir (who knows?) and the entire Angels rotation, we’ve also been hit with DL stints for Roy Halladay, Dice-K, and Edinson Volquez…again.  Today it goes even further as CC Sabathia left after 28 pitches today due to biceps tightness.  Brutal, right?  Fact is, you never know when a favorite of yours is going to blow up, whether it’s due to injury or if he’s just having a Dave Bush kind of day.  Just like the players themselves, you just have to shake it off and hope you make a better decision next time.  Looks like another rough week picking through the 2 start guys, but here we go…

Green Light Pitchers

1. Zack Greinke — @ HOU;  @ PIT
2. Edwin Jackson — vs CHC;  @ HOU
3. John Danks — vs LAD;  vs CHC **start of the week**
4. Javier Vazquez — vs CHC;  vs BOS
5. Carlos Zambrano — @ DET;  @ CHW
6. Max Scherzer — vs TEX;  vs LAA
7. Aaron Cook — @ LAA;  @ OAK  **sleeper of the week**
8.  David Price — vs PHI;  vs FLA
9. Tommy Hanson — vs NYY;  vs BOS

Yellow Light Pitchers

1. Hiroki Kuroda — @ CHW;  vs SEA
2. Brad Penny — @ WAS;  @ ATL
3. Francisco Liriano — @ MIL;  @ STL
4. Matt Palmer — vs COL;  @ ARI
5. Koji Uehara — @ FLA;  vs WAS
6. Trevor Cahill — vs SF;  vs COL
7. Chien-Ming Wang — @ ATL;  @ NYM
8. Jonathan Sanchez — @ OAK;  @ MIL
9. Andrew Miller — vs BAL;  @ TB
10. John Lannan — vs BOS;  @ BAL
11. Todd Wellemeyer — @ NYM;  vs MIN
12. Jamie Moyer — @ TB;  @ TOR

Red Light Pitchers

1. Ryan Dempster — @ ATL;  @ CHW  **bust of the week**
2. Joel Pineiro — @ NYM;  vs MIN **injury risk**
3. Ian Snell — vs CLE;  vs KC
4. Jeff Suppan — vs MIN;  vs SF
5. Livan Hernandez — vs STL;  vs NYY
6. Matt Harrison — @ ARI;  vs SD
7. Micah Owings — @ TOR;  @ CLE
8. Chad Gaudin — @ SEA;  @ TEX
9. Russ Ortiz — vs KC;  vs DET
10. Garrett Olson — vs SD;  @ LAD
11. David Huff — @ PIT;  vs CIN
12. Tim Redding — vs STL;  vs NYY

Side Notes:

So last week I tabbed Jair Jurrjens as my bust and after a rainout in his first start and a so-so outing against the Red Sox on Saturday, it looked like a pretty wise move to keep him on the bench.  This week we’re going with Ryan Dempster.  His career numbers versus Atlanta (2-10, 5.31) arten’t so nice, and his last outing was against the same White Sox he’ll face for his second start.  How’d he fare?  6 innings with 3 runs and……gulp….6 walks.  If he’s not hitting the strike zone, teams will wait him out.  If he does….KABOOM!

I could be putting the whammy on myself by picking John Danks as my start of the week, but I just couldn’t pass up the endorsement.  His last 2 starts have been fantastic (no run support cost him the win against Detroit) striking out 16 in 14.1 innings while allowing only 10 hits, 3 runs and 2 walks.  This week he’s got the Angels, who he beat 2 weeks ago, and the Cubbies who he dismantled his last time out while the wind was blowing out in Wrigley.  Like I said, I don’t want to jinx myself, but he’s looking like a great option.

I don’t know how much of a sleeper my pick is this week, but when most folks don’t go for Rockies starters, I have to point out Aaron Cook.  His last 3 starts have been rock solid (3-0, 2.14 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 14 Ks) and he’s got the Angels and the A’s for his next two outings this week.  He’s got limited but decent numbers against both clubs, so I’d say he’s worth a shot.

Watch out for Joel Pineiro if you have him in your starting lineup.  He left his last game with leg cramps, and while it could be nothing, the club could get cautious and push his start back thus eliminating his 2 start status.

Welcome back Jon Smoltz!!!  Despite his choice of team to play for, it’s nice to see an old stalwart like Smoltzie making a comeback.  Not a 2 starter this week, but could be next week.  Still pretty risky though.  Keep an eye on him.

And finally, I’ve green lighted both youngsters this week, and I’d be lying if I wasn’t a bit hesitant about each.  David Price got beaten up a little his last time out which happened to be the only time he went past the 6th inning, and Tommy Hanson showed that he is vulnerable, although he’s also shown improvement in his last 2 starts.  Bottom line is that I like both of them a lot and each one could tear open the opposition and come away with a phenomenal game in each start.  My gut says you just gotta go with them.