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When it comes to injuries late in the exhibition season, fantasy players fall into two categories: those who use an injury to add a potentially valuable player to their roster and those who lost a potentially valuable player.
The last week of March 2008 has seen its fair share of action/equal reaction injuries which managers should be aware of. Some interesting possibilities have arisen and a few players that went undrafted in most leagues have seen a spike in value. Here are a few of those situations worth monitoring:
Action: Detroit Tigers outfielder Curtis Granderson breaks a finger.
Reaction: Brandon Inge assumes center field duties in Motown.
Inge becomes a decent bench option for many teams as he`ll gain outfield eligibility to go with his current default of third base. The more intriguing scenario involves the 30-year-old utility man gaining eligibility at catcher, as he`s slated to backup Ivan Rodriguez with Vance Wilson on the shelf.
Needless to say, a catcher, third base and outfield eligible Inge has the potential to be a valuable fantasy tool down the road if he`s traded to a team that gives him steady playing time.
Action: Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Chris Capuano tears the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow.
Reaction: The foggy status of the Brewers rotation becomes clearer.
Capunao`s injury coupled with the meltdown of Manny Parra appears to have given the final three spots in the Milwaukee rotation to Dave Bush, Claudio Vargas and Carlos Villanueva.
While the 7.00 spring ERA isn`t appealing to most, Bush has pitched better as of late, allowing two runs and striking out five in his last start. One year ago, the righty was coming off a 12-win, 1.14 WHIP season that had many predicting a breakout. There`s still time for the 28-year-old to become a decent fantasy option.
Vargas had his moments in 2007 -- including nine starts with five or more strikeouts -- but ultimately ended the season with a 5.09 ERA and 1.54 WHIP. The right-handed hurler has been better this spring, posting a 3.86 ERA in 18.2 exhibition innings. Editor`s Note: Vargas was released by the Brewers hours after this article was posted.
Villanueva has been the steadiest of the rotation candidates this spring with a 2.50 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 18 innings pitched. The 24-year-old pitched well for the Brewers last season as well, racking up eight wins, 99 strikeouts and a 3.94 ERA in 114.1 big league innings.
Before going out and grabbing any of the three aforementioned pitchers, remember: Yovani Gallardo is scheduled for a mid-April return to the rotation.
Action: San Francisco Giants infielder Kevin Frandsen tears his Achilles tendon.
Reaction: Eugenio Velez locks up a spot on the Giants roster.
Velez has been one of the more exciting players in the Cactus League, hitting .296 in 71 at-bats. His true value has come on the basepaths, though, as the speedster has swiped 13 bags in 16 attempts.
Stealing bases is nothing new for Velez, as he stole 54 bases in 100 games between Double-A Connecticut and Triple-A Fresno last season.
The 25-year-old won`t have a set starting spot with the Giants, but will likely see time all over the field. With already dinged up veterans Ray Durham and Omar Vizquel manning the middle infield in San Francisco, there`s a good chance Velez will see enough time to approach the 30-steal mark.
He`s worth a shot for teams needing a pick me up in the speed categories.
The last week of March 2008 has seen its fair share of action/equal reaction injuries which managers should be aware of. Some interesting possibilities have arisen and a few players that went undrafted in most leagues have seen a spike in value. Here are a few of those situations worth monitoring:
Action: Detroit Tigers outfielder Curtis Granderson breaks a finger.
Reaction: Brandon Inge assumes center field duties in Motown.
Inge becomes a decent bench option for many teams as he`ll gain outfield eligibility to go with his current default of third base. The more intriguing scenario involves the 30-year-old utility man gaining eligibility at catcher, as he`s slated to backup Ivan Rodriguez with Vance Wilson on the shelf.
Needless to say, a catcher, third base and outfield eligible Inge has the potential to be a valuable fantasy tool down the road if he`s traded to a team that gives him steady playing time.
Action: Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Chris Capuano tears the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow.
Reaction: The foggy status of the Brewers rotation becomes clearer.
Capunao`s injury coupled with the meltdown of Manny Parra appears to have given the final three spots in the Milwaukee rotation to Dave Bush, Claudio Vargas and Carlos Villanueva.
While the 7.00 spring ERA isn`t appealing to most, Bush has pitched better as of late, allowing two runs and striking out five in his last start. One year ago, the righty was coming off a 12-win, 1.14 WHIP season that had many predicting a breakout. There`s still time for the 28-year-old to become a decent fantasy option.
Vargas had his moments in 2007 -- including nine starts with five or more strikeouts -- but ultimately ended the season with a 5.09 ERA and 1.54 WHIP. The right-handed hurler has been better this spring, posting a 3.86 ERA in 18.2 exhibition innings. Editor`s Note: Vargas was released by the Brewers hours after this article was posted.
Villanueva has been the steadiest of the rotation candidates this spring with a 2.50 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 18 innings pitched. The 24-year-old pitched well for the Brewers last season as well, racking up eight wins, 99 strikeouts and a 3.94 ERA in 114.1 big league innings.
Before going out and grabbing any of the three aforementioned pitchers, remember: Yovani Gallardo is scheduled for a mid-April return to the rotation.
Action: San Francisco Giants infielder Kevin Frandsen tears his Achilles tendon.
Reaction: Eugenio Velez locks up a spot on the Giants roster.
Velez has been one of the more exciting players in the Cactus League, hitting .296 in 71 at-bats. His true value has come on the basepaths, though, as the speedster has swiped 13 bags in 16 attempts.
Stealing bases is nothing new for Velez, as he stole 54 bases in 100 games between Double-A Connecticut and Triple-A Fresno last season.
The 25-year-old won`t have a set starting spot with the Giants, but will likely see time all over the field. With already dinged up veterans Ray Durham and Omar Vizquel manning the middle infield in San Francisco, there`s a good chance Velez will see enough time to approach the 30-steal mark.
He`s worth a shot for teams needing a pick me up in the speed categories.
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