Cinco De Mayo: Eric Hosmer Arrives, Homer Bailey Thrives, and Brett Myers Takes a Dive!

Posted by Ryan Hallam on 05/05/2011 | 0 Comments

Tags: Eric Hosmer, Homer Bailey, Brett Myers, Rick Porcello, Brandon Lyon, Derek Jeter, Lance Berkman, Brett Anderson, Brandon Beachy

Stop the presses folks, it is time to run to your waiver wire as perhaps the best prospect in the minors is about to show his face in Kansas City and you need to know about it NOW! Besides that we talk about an icon getting a "day off", a couple of young starters who look to turn around the rough starts to their careers, and a closer who seems that he might be on the DL for sucking. I continue my crusade against Lance Berkman and cover everything else relevant in the world of fantasy baseball for this Thursday.  Please do yourself a favor and sign up for the Fantasy Alarm service to be sure that you never start a benched player again!

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It is an exciting day for all of us who follow minor league prospects as one of the top guys in baseball is coming to the majors.  The Royals have demoted struggling Kila Ka'aihue and brought up super uber mega prospect, Eric Hosmer. Hosmer is one of the top hitting prospects in all of baseball for his sweet swing, strong average, solid power and ability to run. That is what we call a five tool guy folks.  In any kind of league you need to at least make a move on Hosmer, even if you already have a solid first baseman.  A couple of years ago I made a move in a keeper league for a guy named Joey Votto when I already had Ryan Howard.  I still have both and now Votto is better than Howard.  Make the move and I don't believe you will be disappointed.

Homer Bailey is back in the major leagues, and he made the most of his first start. Bailey earned the win, allowing just one run over six innings and striking out seven.  The best part of this performance for Bailey is that he walked just one batter, and control has always been his achilles heel. I will tell you that I have NEVER been a fan of Homer Bailey so I am taking this good outing with a grain of salt and NOT making a move.  Even if you are really in need of pitching, I would leave Bailey in free agency.  He will be walking six guys and allowing four runs before too long.

Bailey outdueled Brett Myers today, who has not been the same pitcher in 2011 at all. After really toughing it out and grinding his way to a good record, Myers has been struggling most of the year, but really over his past few outings. Myers allowed six earned runs over just 5.2 innings on Thursday, and this is now three straight starts that he has allowed four earned runs or more.  I am not ready to say that Myers is going to have a mediocre season just yet, but I have to admit that I am starting to lose faith.

Most everyone, myself included, had given up on Rick Porcello at the start of 2011 but he is showing everyone right now that he might be a viable fantasy pitcher throughout the season. Porcello gave up just two earned runs over seven innings but only struck out two.  That has been one thing that has made fantasy owners shy away from Porcello, is his lack of strikeouts.  But so far in 2011 he has 26 whiffs in 36 innings, which for him is very strong.  If he is available in your waiver wire, I believe I would make the move on him.

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Brandon Lyon was placed on the 15 day Disabled List after an MRI showed tendonitis in his biceps and a tear in his rotator cuff. This might not require surgery, but I have not seen a timetable for his return.  I really wonder about the validity of this test, as when I first saw this news I thought back to last night when he gave up three earned without getting anyone out. Mark Melancon will move into the closer's role while Lyon is out.  Melancon was a closer for part of the time in the minors, but hasn't gotten those chances since being in the majors.  He is pitching extremely well this season so far, so if you have Lyon or need saves, I think I would make the move on him and hope for the best.

Derek Jeter was not in the lineup for the New York Yankees, although they say it is not related to the hip injury that forced him out of the lineup the other day. This has been deemed a periodic day off, but everything is just not going well again for Jeter this season. To me this is what you are going to get with Jeter for the rest of his career, the days of hitting .315 are behind him.  Because he plays shortstop he still has some fantasy value, but he isn't a buy low candidate, he is what you think he is.

Lance Berkman continues to tear the cover off the ball and he got to double digits with his tenth home run of the season. This might frustrate people, but I am going to continue to tell you that I don't believe that this is going to last all season long.  Believe me people I want it to as a Cardinals fan, but I just can't believe that a guy who has hit so poorly over the past couple of seasons all of a sudden is back to being the dominant guy he was earlier in the 2000s.  Trade high on him now before it is too late.

Brett Anderson bounced back nicely from his worst start of the season, but was robbed of a win by his team's inability to score enough runs.  Anderson lasted a complete nine innings and allowed just two runs, while walking none and striking out five. I really like Anderson as a second tier pitcher who can sometimes pitch like an ace. To me, he is going to pitch well the entire season and is someone that you can count on to bring you consistent production.

Brandon Beachy wasn't around for the decision, but he is showing that his slow start was just that and he is ready to be a contributor to fantasy teams. Beachy threw six shutout innings and struck out nine as he allowed two earned runs or less for his fourth consecutive start. I think I need to reassess my opinion of Beachy here as he is mowing hitters down at a great rate and always keeping the Braves in the game.  He shouldn't be around on your waiver wire at this point, but if he is I would definitely make that move.

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