Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the Roto Rush is your double espresso shot of fantasy baseball advice every weekday.
A few weeks ago we discussed the possibility of the Padres promoting 21-year-old phenom Mat Latos. Well, he now has four major league starts under his belt, and, needless to say, he's doing just fine. After a solid outing Monday night, Latos is 3-1 with a 2.66 ERA and a sparkling 0.89 WHIP. He's struck out 16 while only walking 6 in 23 2/3 innings. He's also pitching in one of the best pitcher's parks in baseball.
So, he should be owned in all fantasy leagues, right?
Moises Alou is like an old and dusty attic. Not only because Moises is old (and perhaps dusty), but the more you look around and old attic, the more you're likely to find something new. The more that Mets doctors look around Moises, the more likely they are to find a new injury.
Recovered from hernia surgery, Alou hasn't appeared in a minor-league rehab game since Thursday because of what Omar termed "swollenness" in his left ankle. Not sure how it happened, but the GM said Alou will be in town tomorrow to be checked out by the team's doctors after a CT-scan Friday apparently "showed something," which Minaya acknowledged "might be potentially a slight fracture in there."
Sheesh. Minaya also indicated Alou told him he wanted to play this weekend in St. Lucie despite the latest malady, but it was the Mets who held him back. Minaya still has been led to believe by the medical staff that Alou might be able to return later this week, even if there is a slight fracture.
Who could blame Moises for wanting to play through this, since at his age he isn't going to have too many more chances to get on the field. But ballplayers who are 26 probably shouldn't play through broken ankles, much less Alou. The good news for Met fans is that current folk hero Angel Pagan (who has cooled off but is still hitting .289), and 2006's folk hero Endy Chavez will still get at bats. But for the Mets, who are last in the N.L. in home runs, this isn't good news.
If you're new to these proceedings, click here and here to catch up on what you've missed.
If you're not into the extended catch-up, you've missed a six-run Mets fourth and a two-run Josh Willingham home run and some entertaining fat men dancing. Johan Santana's on his way to his first Mets win, we'll see if he can get it after the jump.
Hopefully you're moving over from the Innings 1-3 coverage but if not and need to catch up, check it out here.
Johan Santana's been everything the Mets expected to this point but he's getting everything he can handle from Mark Hendrickson. On a basketball court, that wouldn't be surprising but we're playing baseball here. Let's see how both men do as they start facing people for the second and third time. For now we're scoreless and heading into the top of the fourth.
If you're looking for a feeling of rebirth, there ain't much better than Opening Day. Blank slates abound, last year's failures are but a fleeting memory and everybody's in first place. Nope, it doesn't get much better than that.
Unless, of course, you have all those things plus your first look at the best pitcher in baseball wearing your team's uniform for the first time in a game that counts. It's Johan Santana's Mets coming out party and the Marlins are playing both host and cannon fodder for the man who has launched World Series dreams all across Queens.
I'll be here for every one of his pitches (and Mark Hendrickson's too!). Sit back, relax and enjoy the show.
The Cubs have traded fiercely sub-mediocre outfielder Angel Pagan to the Mets for -- wait for it -- outfielder Corey Coles and pitcher and righty pitcher Ryan Meyers, both of whom are unlikely to ever be serious Major League prospects. But don't believe me. Take Bleed Cubbie Blue's word for it:
In exchange the Cubs receive two minor leaguers -- 22-year-old RHP Ryan Meyers, who didn't do much in the Mets system till last year, when he was very good as a closer for Savannah in the Low-A South Atlantic League, and left-handed hitting outfielder Corey Coles, who hasn't done much in five years in the minors, all in the Mets organization. He's got pretty good plate discipline (.361 lifetime OBA) but little power (.386 lifetime SLG). Coles will be 26 later this month; he's likely Triple-A roster filler. Meyers figures to start the season at Daytona.
Pagan, as you know, was out much of the second half with a serious illness and it was uncertain whether he'd have a shot at making the team anyway. This deal likely solidifies the position of Sam Fuld as a fifth outfielder for 2008, and it may also have saved Matt Murton's spot on the roster.
Yes, if there's any lasting impact from this trade (besides the outside shot that Meyers is one day a major league pitcher) it's that Matt Murton -- a decent offensive player in his own right -- keeps ... on ... surviving. He's a force of nature. His red hair has to be some sort of lucky charm or something.
Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the Roto Rush is your double espresso shot of fantasy baseball advice every weekday.
In other words, they're not very good. 
