Waiver Wednesday

Welcome to the first installment of Wavering on the Wire where I’ll give you some insight on the players I see sitting out on the waiver wire from week to week. These are players sometime overlooked, coming off the DL, slumping, filling in, etc who could potentially help your team in the short and long term.

Often times, the right pick up at the right time off the wire can be the key to a team’s success. Just ask Fausto Carmona, Heath Bell, Jeremy Accardo, Reggie Willits, Manny Corpas, and Chad Billingsley owners from last year.

April Fools (Guys who started off slow, but that’s what they always do. So if someone lost their patience and dropped them early you could find a diamond in the rough)

Adam LaRoche -- In your typical 12 team 5 x 5 roto league LaRoche was most likely drafted in all leagues. However, after a horrendous start to the season he could be seen hanging out on the wire in a lot of leagues. Considering he batted .163 for the month it was somewhat understandable. However, what the owners who did drop him failed to realize is his career average in April .182, but in for every month combined he’s a .290 hitter. In fact only once in his career has LaRoche ever batted over .200 in April and that was at .206. In comparison for every other month of the season he's only batted below .250 twice. So if he’s lurking around the wire make sure you pick him up because he’s already off to a great start in May at .375, 2 HR, & 5 RBI’s. Recommended in All Formats.

Keeping it Off the DL (Players who got hurt early and were dropped, but are starting to get healthy now)

Elijah Dukes – Dukes is coming off a hamstring injury he suffered in the 1^st game of the season, and still hasn’t been activated yet. However, he was sent down on a rehab assignment last week with the Nationals AAA affiliate in Columbus. So far in 5 games he’s only batting .235 with 3 RBI’s, but the most encouraging news is he also has a stolen base and been caught once. Showing that his hamstring is feeling fine. Dukes is a very talented player and if he can keep the off field issues in check he could be a nice addition to your team. Dukes will be fighting for some playing time with Austin Kearns & Willy Mo Pena, but both are off to slow starts and shouldn’t threaten him that much. Recommendation – Stash him on you bench or in a DL spot if you have the room.

The Replacements (Filling in because of an injury to a superstar, but can produce if given a shot)

Clint Barmes – With the possibility of Troy Tulowitzki being out for two month with a torn quad muscle, Barmes becomes the Rockies everyday SS. Barmes got off to a torrid pace in his rookie year of 2005, but unfortunately he broke his left collarbone that summer. The way he injured himself was certainly the weirdest way I’ve ever heard of someone breaking their collarbone. He fell while carrying a large slab of meat given to him as a gift by Todd Helton up the stairs in his apartment building. Barmes could put up some decent numbers’s in Rockies mashing lineup, as long as he refraines from lugging any meat up the stairs over the next few months. So far this year Barmes is batting .302 with 9 runs, 2 HR, & 11 RBI’s. Recommendation - Pick up in NL Only Leagues & Shallow Mixed Leagues

The Cheap Stats (Players you can plug in who might help you in some of the harder categories to get production, like steals & saves)

Scott Podsednik – His days as of 50-60 SB are probably gone, but if your looking for a few cheap steals Podsednik might be your guy. He doesn’t have an every day gig, but when he’s been in he’s been productive, hitting a nice .308 with 6 SB. He’s a good guy to throw in a on a Monday or Thursday when your lineup is thin and maybe he’ll swip you a bag or two. Recommendation - Pick in NL only & Shallow Mixed Leagues.

Stuck in the Middle with You (Middle relievers with value)

Santiago Casilla/Joey Devine – Two A’s relievers who are both putting up impressive numbers. Casilla hasn’t given up an earned run yet all year and has 21 K’s in 17.1 innings to boot. While Devine is sporting a 0.75 ERA with 13 K’s in 12 innings. Both guys will help you out in with K’s, Whip, & ERA and could factor in for some saves if/when the A’s fall out of it, and deal Huston Street at the deadline. Recommendation – Pick up in AL Only & Shallow Mixed Leagues.

Jesse Carlson/Scott Downs – While Jeremy Accardo is the Jays reliever that most of teams have after BJ Ryan, these two relievers are actually having much better years. Both have very good K per 9 rates and do factor in getting some scavenger saves from BJ Ryan. “The Ryan Rules,” were just lifted so he can pitch back to back days, but he’s still a pitcher who is less than a year removed from Tommy John surgery. So owners be warry things could go wrong and it’s not the worst thing to have some insurance. Recommendation – Pick up in AL Olny & Shallow Mixed Leagues.

Hong-Chih Kou – Another Japanese import having early success in America. Kou has been impressive so far. He has 33 K’s in just 24.1 innings icluding an amazing 8 strikeouts in 3.2 innings of relief last night against the Mets. He also picked up a win in that game. Besides one bad blowout against the Reds, Kou has been nearly unhittable. Recommendation - Pick up in NL Only & Shallow Mixed Leagues

Hit the Spot (Spot Starters for the next few days who might pick you up a win)

Luke Hochevar v. Baltimore (5/8/08) – After a rough first start giving up 6 earned runs in 4.2 innings, Hochevar has quietly won his last two games. So it looks like Royals top pitching prospects are turning it around. He starts against a weaker Baltimore lineup on Thursday. I predict another solid outing.

Dana Eveland v. Texas (5/11/08)- Eveland is coming of a nice start against Balitimore in which he got a no decision. Texas is a great hitters park, but Eveland’s only given up 1 HR in 41.1 innings. So if you can get him, start him.

Gavin Floyd v. Seattle (5/11/08) – Coming off an insane 1 hitter, if by chance Floyd is still out their, make sure you pick him up for his start against the Mariners. Seattle’s offense is tanking and he should have another solid start.

Scott Olsen v. Washington (5/11/08) – He is still walking too many guys, but Washington’s offense isn’t exactly Murderer’s Row. He’s also coming off a stellar performace against the Brewers leathal lineup in which he went 8.2 innings giving up no earned runs while striking out 8. So put him in if your looking for another strong performance.

Jamie Moyer v. San Fransisco (5/10/08) – I’d probably start my mother if she was pitching against the Giants. The King of Slop should pitch well enough for a win.

Move on up (Situations to watch with minor leaguers who could make a move up soon)

The reds 4^th & 5^th starter spots. Bronson Arroyo & Matt Belisle have been down right terrible this year. It’s only so long that the Reds can keep Homer Bailey waiting in the minors. If he’s not being stashed by someone else, make room for Mr. Bailey on your sqaud. He’ll be up sooner than later

The Kershaw debut. While obviously nothing is imminent,with Esteban Loaiza pitching like the washed up pitcher he is, the Clayton Kershaw count down could be starting very soon. If he’s available and you have the room just like in the Bailey senario, pick him up and look forward to the benefits in the near future.

-Chris Lynch