Eric Mack

Someone took offense to my Dustin Pedroia analysis off the news that he could be moved to shortstop. It read:
"The dual eligibility for Pedroia would be huge for him in Fantasy because the shortstop position is far thinner than second base now. Consider him a top five second baseman and perhaps the second shortstop behind Hanley Ramirez and ahead of Troy Tulowitzki and Jose B. Reyes and company."

The complaint:
whoever wrote this analysis thinking pedroia slots in ahead of troy tulowitzki is a moron. Avg is slightly higher, HR way lower, RBI way lower, SB a wash, Runs slightly higher, OBP a wash...i'll take the 30 bombs and 100 RBI from Tulo thanks! (by  kristoff119 12/01/2009 2:04 pm EST)

My response in the player feedback area:
Wrong, kristoff119. Pedroia outscored Tulo in a standard scoring system last year. Also, Pedroia has proven consistent year-to-year and proven to remain more healthy. Tulo does have a higher ceiling, yes, but Pedroia -- especially with dual eligibility -- should hold more value on Draft Day. (by  Eric Mack 12/01/2009 2:39 pm EST) 

Signed,

the moron that gets paid to do what you choose to do in your free time, Emack.

-- Tigers and Twins is the last pennant race that matters. And it most affects the starts of Nick Blackburn and Justin Verlander. Two advisable options in all leagues.
-- September DL returnees are hot: Hiroki Kuroda and Tim Hudson
-- Who is the AL Cy Young winner? Zack Greinke, CC Sabathia, Felix Hernandez, Mariano Rivera?
-- Who is the NL Cy Young winner? Adam Wainwright, Chris Carpenter, Tim Lincecum?
-- Best rookie starters? Rick Porcello/Jeff Niemann/Andrew Bailey -- AL ... Tommy Hanson/J.A. Happ -- NL

Must-start, two-start pitcher
Scott Feldman TEX (12-1, 2.58 on the road -- 3-0, 3.28 vs. LAA)
(09/29) @ ANA Scott Kazmir
(10/04) @ SEA Felix Hernandez
85 percent owned 70 percent starting

Must-sit, two-start pitcher
Jason Marquis COL (1-3, 6.28 in Sept.)
(09/29) vs. MIL Chris Narveson
(10/04) @ LA Vicente Padilla
86 percent owned 66 percent starting

Two-start sleepers
Tim Hudson ATL
(09/29) vs. FLA Rick VandenHurk
(10/04) vs. WAS J.D. Martin
63 percent owned 34 percent starting

Homer Bailey CIN (2-1, 2.67 in Sept.)
(09/29) vs. STL Joel Pineiro
(10/04) vs. PIT Charlie Morton
43 percent owned 26 percent starting

Emack.

Top 10 most-viewed

Street will close again… Kershaw will start again … Edwin Encarnacion is making the Reds look silly for dealing him.

Top 10 most-added

Rowland-Smith surging for M’s … Kuroda 3-1, 2.16 after returning from the DL

Top 10 most-dropped

All these guys are getting shut down, save for the slumping Seth Smith.

No most-traded … its irrelevant at this point

Emack's hot list
1. Michael Cuddyer, MIN
2. Matt Wieters, BAL
3. Troy Tulowitzki, COL
4. Robinson Tejeda, KC
5. Clay Buchholz, BOS

Honorable mentions: Wade Davis, TB; David Price, TB; Matt Garza, TB; Rajai Davis, OAK; Drew Stubbs, CIN.

Emack's not list
1. Joba Chamberlain, NYY
2. Kendry Morales, LAA
3. Brad Penny, LAD
4. Mark Reynolds, ARI
5. Jarrod Washburn, DET

Dishonorable mentions: Jhonny Peralta, CLE; Nick Markakis, BAL; Ryan Ludwick, STL; Kevin Millwood, TEX; Bobby Jenks, CHW.

Emack.

-- Red-hot arms: Jorge De La Rosa, Ryan Rowland-Smith, Robinson Tejeda and Barry Zito.
-- Banged-up arms: Roy Oswalt, Andy Pettitte, Gavin Floyd, J.A. Happ, Huston Street, Derek Lowe and Tim Wakefield
-- Returning aces you get a look at: Dice-K Matsuzaka and Jake Peavy

Must-start, two-start pitcher
Jorge De La Rosa COL
(09/22) vs. SD Edward Mujica
(09/26) vs. STL Adam Wainwright
82 percent owned 62 percent starting

Must-sit, two-start pitcher
Aaron Laffey CLE
(09/22) vs. DET TBA 
(09/27) vs. BAL Chris Tillman
30 percent owned 13 percent starting

Two-start sleepers
Ryan Rowland-Smith SEA
(09/22) @ TB Jeff Niemann
(09/27) @ TOR Brian Tallet
35 percent owned 22 percent starting

Chris Tillman BAL
(09/21) @ TOR David Purcey
(09/27) @ CLE Aaron Laffey
29 percent owned 11 percent starting

Emack.

Top 10 most-viewed

Dice-K’s back! ... Also, Peavy on his way... Zito a solid two-start pitcher next week.

Top 10 most-added

Tejeda? Who? ... Also Garcia and C.B. Young are hot.

Top 10 most-dropped

Morneau and a bunch in operation shutdown. .... Smoltz and Happ will be added next week, we believe.

Top 10 most-traded

Trade for players in contention ... if you’re even allowed to make trades this time of year.

Emack.

Emack's Hot List
1. Billy Butler, 1B, KC
2. Derrek Lee, 1B, CHC
3. Pedro Martinez, SP, BOS
4. Jon Lester, SP, BOS
5. Lance Berkman, 1B, HOU

Honorable mentions: Brad Penny, SP, SF; James Loney, 1B, LAD; Nick Swisher, OF, OAK; Clay Buchholz, SP, BOS; Tommy Hanson, SP, ATL.

Emack's Not List
1. Ryan Franklin, RP, STL
2. Brad Lidge, RP, PHI
3. Pat Burrell, OF, TB
4. Kendry Morales, 1B, LAA
5. Matt Diaz, OF, ATL

Dishonorable mentions: Fausto Carmona, SP, CLE; Zach Duke, SP, PIT; Andrew McCutchen, OF, PIT; Luke Scott, OF, BAL; Nick Blackburn, SP, MIN.

Emack

-- Injury updates: Tim Lincecum and Jake Peavy
-- Guys that figure to pitch: Dice-K Matsuzaka and John Maine
-- Closer situations: Philly (Lidge-Madson-Myers) and Colorado (Morales-Street)

Must-start, two-start pitcher
Yovani Gallardo MIL
(09/15) @ CHC Carlos Zambrano
(09/20) vs. HOU Wandy Rodriguez
96 percent owned 60 percent starting

Another Must-start, two-start pitcher
David Price TB
(09/14) @ BAL David Hernandez
(09/19) vs. TOR Ricky Romero
86 percent owned 48 percent starting

Must-sit, two-start pitcher
Zach Duke PIT
(09/14) @ LA Jon Garland
(09/20) vs. SD Edward Mujica
72 percent owned 34 percent starting

Two-start sleepers
Brandon McCarthy TEX
(09/14) vs. OAK Brett D. Tomko
(09/20) vs. ANA John Lackey
24 percent owned 10 percent starting

Chad Gaudin NYY
(09/14) vs. ANA Jered Weaver
(09/20) @ SEA Ian Snell
19 percent owned 8 percent starting

Emack.

Top-10 most-viewed

Beltran’s back ... Davis and Bumgarner debut ... Lincecum, uh oh!

Morales closing temporarily. Penny is 2-0. Stubbs has been impressive...

Top 10 most-dropped

Hamilton and Peavy are potential returnees next week.

Top 10 most-traded

Santana being traded for Justin Verlander and Chris Carpenter as a keeper.

Emack.

Emack's hot list
1. Kendry Morales, 1B, LAA
2. Matt Kemp, OF, LAD
3. Milton Bradley, OF, CHC
4. Homer Bailey, SP, CIN
5. Juan Gutierrez, RP, ARI

Honorable mentions: Chris Coghlan, OF, FLA; Andy Marte, 3B, CLE; Barry Zito, SP, SF; Brian Matusz, SP, BAL; Scott Baker, SP, MIN.

Emack's not list
1. Carlos Zambrano, SP, CHC
2. Alfonso Soriano, OF, CHC
3. Joba Chamberlain, SP, NYY
4. Raul Ibanez, OF, PHI
5. Travis Snider, OF, TOR

Dishonorable mentions: Rick Ankiel, OF, STL; Chris Volstad, SP, FLA; Junichi Tazawa, SP, BOS; Jose A. Contreras, SP, CHW; Taylor Teagarden, C, TEX.

Emack.

-- Minor league seasons are ending, which means it's time to get starters back, or shut them down ... Are Jake Peavy, Dice-K Matsuzaka and Tim Hudson close?
-- Tim Wakefield and Joe Saunders had victories in their first start off the DL ... gotta trust them, right?
-- Johan Santana is out for the season. It is the time of the year to put your money on pitchers with something to play for... those working for contenders, especially if they team is hot down the stretch

Must-start, two-start pitcher
A.J. Burnett NYY
(09/01) @ BAL David Hernandez
(09/06) @ TOR Scott Richmond
97 percent owned 85 percent starting

Must-sit, two-start pitcher
Mike Pelfrey NYM
(09/01) @ COL Josh Fogg
(09/06) vs. CHC Randy Wells
62 percent owned 34 percent starting

Two-start sleepers
Anibal Sanchez FLA
(09/01) vs. ATL Javier Vazquez
(09/06) @ WAS Livan Hernandez
43 percent owned 28 percent starting

Trevor Cahill OAK
(09/01) vs. KC Kyle Davies
(09/06) vs. SEA Doug W. Fister
26 percent owned 12 percent starting

Emack.

Top-10 most-viewed

Chris Davis is coming back! ... E.Y. Jr. is called up ... Kendrick looks like a solid option in all leagues again – as does Anibal Sanchez.

Top-10 most-added

Smoltz has a strong debut with the Cardinals. LaRoche has been great with the Braves. Charlie Haeger has been clutch for the Dodgers.

Top-10 most dropped

Well, well, well... Mat Latos... sucked before a two-start week and you might have had to bench him... don’t worry, he was risky, even if he came through.

Top-10 most traded

Don’t mess with the Johan... son of a! It’s the risk you take making trades this time of year, especially for players who are out of the race. You have to load on up guys with something to play for – especially with regard to pitchers.

Emack.

Emack's Hot List
1. CC Sabathia, NYY
2. David Ortiz, BOS
3. Jayson Werth, PHI
4. Cliff Lee, PHI
5. Chris Carpenter, STL

Honorable mentions: Michael Cuddyer, MIN; Hideki Matsui, NYY; Brian Roberts, BAL; Ubaldo Jimenez, COL; Huston Street, COL.

Emack's Not List
1. Bud Norris, HOU
2. Mat Latos, SD
3. Brandon Inge, DET
4. Justin Morneau, MIN
5. Chris Iannetta, COL

Dishonorable mentions: Francisco Liriano, MIN; Brad Penny, BOS; Derek Lowe, ATL; Alfonso Soriano, CHC; Ivan Rodriguez, TEX.

Emack.

Top-10 Most Viewed

Marmol now the closer. Mauer is just incredible and ... and Pudge gets dealt.

Top-10 most added

Perhaps this is where we focus on Snider.

Top-10 most dropped 

Struggling pitchers and injuries here, as always.

Top-10 most traded 

Cliff Lee is en fuego... six-game win streak, 3-0, 1.13 ERA with the Phillies.

Emack's Hot List
1. Ryan Howard
2. Ervin Santana
3. Adrian Gonzalez
4. Randy Wolf
5. Hanley Ramirez

Honorable mentions: Troy Tulowitzki, Jason Bay, Francisco Liriano, Scott Baker, Justin Verlander

Emack's Not List
1. David Wright
2. Ricky Nolasco
3. Jered Weaver
4. Jim Thome
5. Nick Blackburn

Dishonorable mentions: Francisco Rodriguez, Brad Lidge, Brandon Inge, Alex Gordon, Alfonso Soriano

Emack.