FanHouse JarrodParker

Apparently, the reason the Padres have won all these games the first two weeks of the season is that they needed the postgame handshakes.

To introduce themselves to one another.

Poppin' out the box scores and right into your cubicle, the Roto Rush is your double espresso shot of fantasy baseball advice every weekday.

The days where boos rained down upon Kosuke Fukudome seem like a distant memory.

Through nine games on the new season, the formerly-embattled center fielder is batting .375 with three homers, eight RBI, six runs and a steal for good measure. Compare that to his rookie campaign, where he only managed 10 big knocks in 501 at-bats. Should we believe in this new and improved Fukudome, or is it only a matter of time before fans are ripping him to shreds again?

The Arizona Diamondbacks, in need of some offense to keep above that precious .500 mark and in first in the NL West, were rumored to be a suitor for Mark Teixeira as the trading deadline approaches.

And apparently, they were suitors for Manny Ramirez as well. "Were" being the key word in both instances, because it appears that both potential deals are no longer on the table. (So sayeth sources.)

The D-Backs have had no discussions with Boston about Ramirez, the source said Monday, countering a report in the Providence (R. I.) Journal that said the D-Backs were believed to be one of four teams that contacted the Red Sox about Ramirez.

"That's a non-issue," the source said.

As for Teixeira, the D-Backs have had discussions with Atlanta for several days but have not found enough common ground to make a deal work.

After the D-Backs inquired about Teixeira earlier this month, Atlanta came back with an offer that the D-Backs dismissed out of hand - Chad Tracy and minor league right-handers Max Scherzer and Jarrod Parker, according to two sources. Atlanta also brought up Conor Jackson.

The sides just don't match up, the source said.

The Tribune's source also mentions that the Braves would have to be willing to accept Tracy and a mid level prospect (something we already knew, no?).

Arizona is lauded for its recent ability to generate and maintain home grown talent (and rightfully so, although Carlos Quentin might disagree) recently and most of their roster, Dan Haren excepted, is from the farm system. Meaning, it seems pretty unlikely that they will cough up someone with high upside like Scherzer or Parker.

Also meaning a deal between the Braves and the Snakes for Tex looks pretty unlikely at this point.

A look at the first round selections in today's MLB draft by the five teams of the NL West division. For a full recap of the first round, you can always read the live-blog we kept of it.

Colorado Rockies (8) Casey Weathers, RHP, Vanderbilt (Scouting report courtesy of Purple Row):

Entering the 2007 season, Vanderbilt head coach Tim Corbin named Weathers the closer for the team. He did nothing to disappoint anyone this past season as you can see from his stats above. His fastball normally sits around 96 MPH and his slider touches 84-86 MPH on most occasions. He should be a guy who moves quickly through the Rockies system once he signs his contract. The Rockies need more than a reliever to fix their problems and there were several high upside guys available at the #8 pick. But this pick may be an indication that [Brian] Fuentes [pictured] will be traded if not before the July trade deadline then probably during the off-season.

Arizona Diamondbacks (9) Jarrod Parker, RHP, Norwell (IN) HS: (Scouting report courtesy Baseball America via Diamondbacks Bullpen)

Parker pitched for Team USA's junior national squad that won a silver medal in the World Junior Championship in Cuba last September. He has blown away scouts and hitters all spring, warming up for his initial start at 93-94 mph and hitting 97 with his first official pitch of the season. He touched 98 in that game and has continued to do so since, often working at 95-96. Just 6-foot-2 and 175 pounds, Parker generates his exceptional velocity with an unbelievably quick arm.

San Francisco Giants (10) Madison Bumgarner, LHP, South Caldwell (NC) HS: (Scouting report courtesy Giants Official Site)

Bumgarner, 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds, possesses a fastball that has been clocked as high as 95 mph. With that effective a pitch, he's still working on developing his curveball and changeup. He was 11-2 with one save and a 1.05 ERA for South Caldwell this year. In 86 1/3 innings, Bumgarner struck out 145, allowed 45 hits and walked 11. With his size, the 17-year-old has inspired comparisons to Mark Mulder and Andy Pettitte.