Fantasy FanHouse

Jeff Clement to the Bigs ... Take Two

Will Brinson — Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Seattle, Mariners, AL West, Fantasy MLB, MLB Waiver Wire

Jeff Clement's first stint at the big league level did not pan out quite so well. To say that he struggled -- batting .167 with 0HR, seven walks and 20 strikeouts in 48 at bats -- would be an understatement. But as soon as he got demoted to the minors, he started ripping the cover off the ball. Again.

Hence, the Mariners have decided to call Clement back to the bigs. He hasn't played in the majors since returning yet, but he should strap back on the padding and/or take a trip to the outfield soon.

He has been playing at AAA-Tacoma though, absolutely raking the ball -- nine homers, another nine doubles, getting on base at a .375+ club and only 17 strikeouts in May and June combined -- since returning. Which would explain why the M's didn't mind bringing him back up (well, that and their MLB worst record).

Now, Clement is going to be catcher eligible for fantasy purposes, but he might not always play there, giving him the potential to be a half-season/poor man's Josh Willingham from 2006.

Is he a must add in every fantasy league? Um, no. Smaller leagues don't want to burn waiver claims or take the risk that he will do what he did last time. But if you have a 12 team league (or bigger) or use two catchers, I think I'm grabbing him for the upside. Right now, the internet related buzz says to hold off on grabbing him, but if you don't beat the buzz, you end up continuing to play Jesus Flores.

The downside is there (see his first promotion) but the power from that spot, especially if you're in a keeper league, is too strong to ignore.

Jeff Clement to the Bigs ... Take Two originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Tue, 17 Jun 2008 17:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Need Saves? Go Grab Brandon Morrow, Now

Matt Snyder — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Seattle, Mariners, AL West, MLB Injuries, Injury Report, Fantasy MLB, MLB Waiver Wire

Hot off the presses, J.J. Putz left the mound with an ailing pitching elbow today in Toronto, and young fireballer Brandon Morrow took over to garner his first career save.

Putz already had some injury woes earlier this season, and if this is indeed an injury to his pitching elbow he may be lost for the season. It's not like the Mariners are going to literally give up on the 2008 season, but if they have to make a decision on whether they want him healthy for the start of next season or not, no chances will be taken with his long term health.

As for Morrow, I have mentioned a Joba-like rotation move for him, but this could change everything. He's got sick stuff and would easily become a dominant closer. Coming into today, Morrow sported a 1.06 ERA with 23 whiffs in 17 innings.

The only downside is that the Mariners do, in fact, suck. His save opportunities would be few and far between. Still, that doesn't mean he wouldn't be a valuable contributor to the category ... Brian Wilson has 18 saves for the hapless Giants. Unlike Wilson, Morrow will provide stellar help in ERA and WHIP when he's on the hill.

Keep an eye on Putz in shallow leagues because you don't want to jump the gun for a middle reliever.

In deeper leagues where Morrow is still available, go get him now and beat the crowd.

Need Saves? Go Grab Brandon Morrow, Now originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Wed, 11 Jun 2008 16:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New Studs on the Block: Young Aces Armed and Ready to Explode

Matt Snyder — Tue, 22 Apr 2008 01:00:00 EST

Filed under: Seattle, Mariners, Giants, AL West, NL West, San Francisco, MLB New Studs, Fantasy MLB

New Studs takes a look at players ready to make the leap from "possibly productive fantasy player" to "must-have fantasy stud." This is not a "you've never heard of this dude, but ... " series -- these should be names you already know.

Both of these guys came into the season with gobs of upside, but tempered expectations for different reasons. With one, we were worried that he's still not ready to make "The Leap," after having been teased by his potential the past two seasons. The other? Well, his team sucks. Really, really sucks. So did you really want to waste a high draft pick on a guy that can't win more than ten games? Judging from ADP charts, the answer was a resounding "NO!"

All of a sudden they have something in common: They are simultaneously making the jump from, "dude, he's pretty damn solid, but ... " territory into the "This guy is a freaking monster!" zone. When you drop the "but," the guy is ready to make an appearance on the ever-growing "New Studs on the Block," list.

Welcome aboard, Linc and King Felix. Please bring your nasty stuff and power arms as you join us ...

Tim Lincecum, SP, San Francisco Giants

Coming into the season, the only real question mark about Linc was that his team was gawdawful horrible. With no run support and a suspect defense, how was he going to become an upper-echelon fantasy option? We knew he was viable because of the Ks, ERA, and WHIP potential, but you like to get four categories from your fantasy staff ace. Maybe we should have realized that Erik Bedard was one of fantasy's best last year, as he dealt for a quite abysmal supporting cast (and Linc doesn't even have to face the Yankees and Red Sox multiple times). In hindsight, seeing a pitcher with the caliber stuff of Lincecum sitting in the high twenties of most starting pitching rankings for a plethora of fantasy rags should have been a major precursor to a sleeper campaign (which is defined as exceeding expectations -- and while I'm here a "bust" means not meeting expectations, so please realize for future reference that "bust" doesn't mean someone blows). Well, he's in the middle of said sleeper/breakout now, sporting a sick 1.57 ERA with 27 Ks (in 23 innings) and a 3-0 record to boot. His team doesn't have to win 70 for him to succeed, they only have to win every fifth day.

He's an ace. Treat him like one.

Felix Hernandez, SP, Seattle Mariners

I don't need to tell you about the background of Felix Hernandez. He was anointed as Dwight Gooden reincarnate when he was 19. While he's only 22 now, he's got more seasoning at the big league level than most 26 year-old arms. This may cause worry in light of the innings build-up once he reaches 30, but that's a long time from now. In between he's going to pile up numbers and probably a Cy Young or two. Why not start now? He's sizzling, only allowing five runs in his first four outings (four of which were in the same game to the Angels, where he took the win anyway). The strikeouts have increased each game, and it's a good sign that he hasn't had a bad game mixed in the middle of good ones. The main problem thus far in his career has been (Joe Morgan's favorite trait) a lack of consistency. He's had enough experience to counteract that short history quite soon.

Like Lincecum, people underrated the King in preseason drafts. For Hernandez it was two main reasons:
1. Bedard got more press in Seattle
2. Felix has been a tease for the past two years

No longer a tease, he's putting out now (I'm sure there's a Brittany Spears/Lindsay Lohan/Paris Hilton joke somewhere in here). Like Linc, he's a fully-fledged card-carrying member of the fantasy ace club.

Finally, I'll reiterate they are both really young (Linc is 23, since I didn't specifically mention that earlier). In keeper leagues you should be doing what you can to acquire them for the long haul.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images.

New Studs on the Block: Young Aces Armed and Ready to Explode originally appeared on Fantasy FanHouse on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 01:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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