I received tons of great feedback, and I think everybody is starting to realize that Tony cannot be the manager of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011. He is simply hurting the team. Some of the decisions he has made this season are just ridiculous, and the funny thing is that I have always been a Tony La Russa supporter. Until a couple weeks ago, of course.

I urge you to click on the link above so you fully understand my feelings about this situation. The franchise can no longer afford for TLR to hurt this team. It’s been fun, but enough is enough, and it is time for the La Russa era to come to an end. The question I have gotten from several people following my piece on Monday is, “Who replaces Tony?”

The answer is not so simple considering many teams are going to be searching for a manager this offseason. If La Russa does not come back, the Cardinals will join the Cubs, Braves, Mariners, Diamondbacks, Marlins and Astros as teams that could be looking for a new skipper. Due to talent already on-hand, fan support, payroll, etc., one would think the St. Louis job is one of the top two positions available, along with Atlanta. Hopefully that means the Redbirds can sign one of the top managers available to take La Russa’s job. But who is included in that list? I wish I knew. But I’ll give you my list.

Read Justin’s list of replacement options for Tony La Russa by reading the rest of this article on I-70 Baseball.

Justin Hulsey covers the Cardinals for i70baseball and his blogs, Cardinals Front Office and Rising Redbirds, that are also dedicated to Cardinals baseball and their minor league system.You may follow him on Twitter @JayHulsey by clicking here

Little did people know the Rays traded Kazmir because he was never going to be effective again. He had an injury prior to the 2009 season. Since then, Kazmir has not been the pitcher he was in the last three years.

That was enough to quiet the critics. Here is another good reason the critics have nothing to say anymore. Sean Rodriguez was one of the few players the Rays received in return for Kazmir, and he has made this trade turn out to be in Rays’ favor.

Interestingly enough, Rodriguez was the player to be named later in that trade.

Rodriguez received playing time this year by Rays manager Joe Maddon. Maddon loved how he played the game with passion. He wanted to add guys like that on his roster this year.

Maddon felt the team could use some spark-plug players to complement Evan Longoria, B.J. Upton, Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena.

When Maddon was the Angels bench coach, he noticed Mike Scioscia would use his role players in key spots, and those guys would respond. Maddon knew those type of players can be meaningful when it comes to building a championship team.

Rodriguez  made the most of his opportunity by playing well.

He is known more for his defense than his hitting. He makes fine grabs that help form a double play or he will rob a base hit. He also executes the shift well in getting a slugger out.

He will get his occasional hits when he has to. He is one of the few Rays that has a knack to get game-winning hits in a tight game this season.

This makes him a a fan favorite, and this is why he is an everyday player.

On Wednesday night, Rodriguez contributed in the Rays’ 2-1 victory over the Blue Jays with his glove and his bat.

He made couple of good catches to get the hitter out and that prevented the Blue Jays from creating a big inning.  He homered to give the Rays’ a 1-0 lead. He also had a triple, and a single.

Rodriguez batted in the eighth inning, but Blue Jays manager Cito Gaston denied Rodriguez an opportunity to hit  for a cycle by walking him.

When a manager intentionally walks a batter, it is a compliment. Fan never thought they would see the day where Rodriguez would receive an intentional walk, but it shows the respect the manager has for a hitter.

Count this in as another great trade by Friedman. It seems he can do nothing wrong.  Answer this question: What move did Friedman make that ended up on the wrong side of the trade?

It is hard to come up with one.

It is amazing how Friedman somehow has a knack for talent, and how everything works out in his favor. That is hard to do. Most baseball general managers have their fair share of hits and misses, which is the norm in baseball.

No one knew who Rodriguez is when he was acquired.  If he was any good, the Angels would not consider trading him. To them, he was a spare part.

Who knew what Maddon saw in him in spring training? Whatever it is, it paid off well for Maddon. It says something about the Rays finding a way to make it work for role players.

Under Maddon’s leadership, role players play like stars for the Rays. They know how to hit walkoffs or get game-winning hits late in the game. That is what happens when a team creates a winning environment.

It is always fun to see a young player grow in his job. The more Rodriguez plays, the more he gets better as a player.

The Rays have to be happy with his development. They did not think he would progress quickly, but here it is.

Rodriguez has become a vital cog of this 2010 Rays’ team.

The issue I have with this report is that Manny did not sign a deal with the  White Sox. He did not say I pick you out of all the teams in baseball. This fact is a deal in my mind. Giambi cut his trademark goat and hair when he signed his crazy deal with the Yankees but he was well paid for his weekly shave. The issue I have with this idea is that in most cases these teams are trading for these guys. The teams are going out and saying we want you to help make our team better. I understand that a team might have a look to their uniform or that MLB might say you can or can not wear this color or that because of a number of reasons but to say we traded for you knowing what you looked liked but now you have to change because we do not like that look is wrong.

It is just that simple. It is wrong to tell a man you have to shave, cut your hair, trim your nose hairs or whatever if you trade for him in my mind. If I was a player and was traded to New York, where they would tell me to cut my long hair, I would say no. The reason is simple you knew I had long hair when you traded for me. I did not pick the Yankees as my team, you picked me and if you do not like it trade me to the A’s or some other team that will let me be me.

I do however think a team has the right to tell a player how to wear their uniform. The uniform is not an extension of you. The uniform belongs to the team and the league but your skin, your hair, your teeth belong to you. So, as long as these things are not causing another player harm a team should not be allowed to make you do anything to your face, head, or tattoos if they add you to the roster via trade, waiver, or any other means where you are not you picking that team and saying I had other offers but I chose to pick your team thus agreeing to all the rules of said team.

I know in the big picture this does not really matter but it has always made me mad to think that teams think that they can do this time and time again. Tell me what you think.

If you are not already an online trading veteran I would suggest you find a trading site to join and that you like being a part of.  There are many out there and almost all are free to join.  Scout around the sites, read a lot of posts and see what you think of how it’s being run as well.  Most people only have the time to trade on one site so pick one that’s a good fit for you.  Be prepared to send first on your initial 10 or 20 trades on most sites.  This is so you can prove yourself and this protects established site members from being ripped off.  I have joined and traded on many of the bigger online card trading sites over the years so if you would like opinions on what might be a good fit for you and your collecting habits please contact me and I will do my best to help.

Another trading tool that is key these days is to either have a web site or a place to host your card scans, or both.  I am not saying you need to have some fancy site, just posting a trade and want list works just fine.  This allows other traders to check out your site and find stuff they may need instead of you always having to post a list for people.  This saves you time and generates more trades for you.  If you deal a lot in vintage or higher end cards I would suggest you also post scans of your cards on your site or an image hosting site.  This saves you time instead of having to make people wait all the time while you get them a requested scan.  Even if you are not that great with a computer there are many free web and image hosting sites out there for free and very easy to use.

One other tip I would like to mention is behavior.  If you act like an idiot, treat others badly, swear or try and scam people your online trading experience will be cut short.  Sites will ban you and word gets around quickly about trouble makers in this hobby.  Be polite and professional in your dealings and you will get the same in return almost always.  If you’re trading ship out trades quickly, pack the cards safely and you will see your collection grow!

For comments, suggestions or hobby help please contact me at negroleaguebaseball@hotmail.com.  I am always happy to help a fellow collector in any way that I can.

The 30 year-old Buck – now in his seventh MLB season – is having a career year.  After 94 games this season, Buck has a career-high of 55 RBIs and a career-high .279 AVG.  Buck is demonstrating more efficiency as a hitter than he did in his six years with the Kansas City Royals:  hitting .297 in May, .271 in June, .328 in July and .283 in August.  With 15 home runs at this time, Buck should be able to break his 2007 career-high of 18 home runs.

In six seasons with the Royals, Buck’s 162-game averages were a .235 AVG, 19 home runs and 71 RBIs.  Buck’s current 162-game projections amount to a .279 AVG, 25 home runs and 94 RBIs.  Joe Mauer was the only catcher to hit 25 or more home runs in 2009.  Mauer, Victor Martinez and Brian McCann were the only catchers to drive in 90 or more runs in 2009.  Although Buck’s 90 strikeouts, 11 walks and .308 OBP may make you shudder, his power should not be ignored.  Buck has the potential to hit nearly 30 home runs and drive in 90 or more runs over a full season.

Despite currently ranking among the top fantasy catchers in 2010, Buck is only owned in 44% of Yahoo fantasy baseball leagues at this time.  Add him from waivers and let his power guide your team to a fantasy championship.

Christopher Wenrich is a Fantasy Sports contributor for BaseballDigest.com and GothamGridiron.com.  He can be reached at philliesmuse@yahoo.com

Parallels—Every card has a silver parallel which come seeded one per pack.

Inserts—The easy to obtain inserts sets for this release are Award Winners with 30 cards, Domination with 30 cards, Total Production with 10 cards, Team Checklists with 30 cards and Total Topps with 20 cards.

Rookie cards—Biggest rookie card this set has is Dan Uggla since Topps was the first one to produce a card of him.  Other big names are Ian Kinsler and Matthew Kemp.

Autographs—This was the first Topps Total set to include autographs but they are a very tough pull.  So tough in fact you have a 15:1 chance of pulling a printing plate before you pull an autograph, a first for any product I’ve ever seen.  There are 7 autographs in the Topps Signatures series with the best ones being David Wright, Zack Greinke and Robinson Cano.  There are also supposed to be 10 Barry Bonds autographs floating around but I have never seen one.

The test of time— For the price, around $24 at online stores but I’ve seen boxes go for as low as $7 at auction sites, Topps Total is a fun buy—if you are a set builder.  Unless you get really lucky and pull a good printing plate or an auto you will not make money on this box, not even worth trying that route here.  If you’re trying to build a set you will do fine, insert sets can be finished in about two boxes worth of pulls, while the bigger set is 2-3 boxes and then some trading.  For a big challenge try to put together a complete set of silver parallels.

Next week I will be taking a look at the 2003 Fleer Tradition Update.

The heated pennant race in the AL East received an injection of youth into the equation as both the Rays and the Yankees called up their top prospects, Desmond Jennings and Jesus Montero respectively.

Although not battling for a playoff spot, the Royals and Mets will try to reach relevance next year by giving their young rookies a chance to gain big league experience, specifically Mike Moustakas and Jenrry Mejia.

These four rookies have the ability to give your fantasy team a push in September:

Desmond Jennings OF: Thrown into the heat of a pennant race, Jennings could help solve the Rays’ DH/leadoff problem. The heir apparent to Carl Crawford’s left field spot next season, Tampa’s number one hitting prospect brings speed potential to an already fleet-footed lineup. Whether his role if off the bench or in the starting lineup, Jennings’ ability to steal bases consistently is appealing to fantasy owners in need.

Jesus Montero C: With unquestionable talent at the plate, Montero may find it hard to find playing time on a stacked Yankee lineup. Able to give Francisco Cervelli a breather at catcher, New York’s top prospect could rotate between a possible DH role and being behind the plate. If given the time, Montero could be more valuable than incumbent fantasy catchers such as Matt Wieters or Kurt Suzuki considering his plus power.

Mike Moustakas 3B: After a three home run, 11 RBI audition before the rosters expanded, Moustakas has given the Royals’ organization enough motivation to promote the former No. 2 pick. With the third base spot currently manned by the light-hitting Wilson Betemit, Moustakas and his 34 minor league home runs (Between Double-A and Triple-A) could add pop to a lineup that has none outside of Billy Butler. Although his call-up isn’t a lock, the Royals could help both their lineup and your own for September by bringing up their top prospect.

Jenrry Mejia SP: After appearing in relief for the Mets earlier in the season, Mejia was sent down in order to be converted back into a starter. Recalling him from Triple-A Birmingham signifies New York’s intent to give the young righty a chance to start this September. A strikeout machine in the minors ( 35 K’s in 35 innings between stints in both Double-A and Triple-A), Mejia’s call-up might as well be an audition for a spot in the Mets’ 2011 rotation. With four starts a realistic possibility, the righty could easily contribute 2 wins and 25 strikeouts for New York this month.

Read Bill’s Article By Clicking Here

Erika Lynn checked in the following day with her thoughts on the subject, taking a look at players as role models from the eyes of a parent and relatively new fan of professional baseball.

Read Erika’s Article By Clicking Here

Kirk Verner took his turn for the third part of the series, as he discussed the perception of athletes as role models and their freedom of speech from a viewpoint of a citizen that is North of the border.

Read Kirk’s Article By Clicking Here

We’re currently doing a series here on BaseballDigest.com about putting athletes in the position to be role models.  Should they have that responsibility? Should such idol worship be encouraged or discouraged in impressionable minds?

Since I was old enough to form my own opinion, I knew that athletes were to be admired…for their athleticism.  They’re no different than any actor you see on a TV show.  It’s a role that they play-  you know nothing about them except what you read, see, or hear.  That being said, I had my heroes as a kid, just like any other kid.  And ball players were the guys I wanted to be like.  Mickey Mantle, Bobby Murcer, and John Havlicek among them.   I imagined myself as them batting in a backyard game or shooting basketballs on the driveway.  But I also grew up with a tremendous sense of family.  I knew who were the two people, my Mom and Dad, keeping a roof over my head, meals on our table, and always there for me when I needed them.

I was in awe of athletes back then and still am to a degree today.   One of the biggest thrills as a kid was getting an autograph at a game, whether it was a star or some kid up two weeks for a cup of coffee. Sure there were times when players blew you off for autographs – Reggie Jackson did that to me at a NJ Nets game in the early ’80s, but then again he is Reggie Jackson – but for the most part players were amiable.

But once you start to get older you look at players differently. It’s called maturity (on your part, not their’s). Then maybe the worst thing happens – you realize sports is a business. My first taste of that came when the 1972 baseball player’s strike hit. Then there was the strike in 1981 and again in 1994. Suddenly baseball and it’s players lost some of it’s appeal. That last strike changed my opinion went from completely blaming the owners to giving the player’s equal share of the onus.

Things got worse as the mid to late ’90s hit. Steroids, HGH, performance enhancing drugs (PED), cocaine, etc. became prevalent. And the media was to blame too. Why the media? Because the exploits of players suddenly became public fodder. Where as a great player could be a complete schmuck, we the fans didn’t want to know that. Maybe that’s naive, maybe that’s wishing for a simpler time, maybe it’s just none of our business if a player is getting a lap dance at some strip club or cheating on his wife.  Obviously I mean within reason.  No one wants an axe murderer on their team.  We just want players who will give 100% to the team, hopefully perform well, and treat the fans with respect.

After that 1994 strike, the players made a concerted effort to win back the affection of the public and, for the most part, it worked. Then the steroid scandal hit and again fans took a second and third look at the players they admired. (Unfortunately, most fans are only upset by the cheaters on other teams.)  Now every time someone has a good year they’re under suspicion. Look at what Raul Ibanez dealt with last year and to a lesser degree, the not so quiet whispers that Jose Bautista has heard this year.

But some teams are trying to change the public perception. Yes, win or lose, the players, as my wife loves to say, still go home as millionaires. But some of these millionaires give a damn. Let’s take a look at the Yankees for instance.

The captain, Derek Jeter, has his Turn 2 Foundation. Jorge Posada’s group works with those, like his son Jorge Posada Jr., affected by Craniosynostosis. CC Sabathia and Curtis Granderson work on improving youngsters lives. But possibly the most impressive things the Yankees have done began last year as the brainchild of Yankees PR head Jason Zillo.

“Hope Week” brings good vibrations to the community and great kharma to the Yankees. The week long series of events has the Yankees organization, from the top of the food chain down to the 25th man on the roster getting involved with those in need. This year’s activities looked like this:

Monday:  Things kicked off with Panamanian native, and New Jersey resident, Jorge Grajales being surprised by a group of Yankees for his 13th birthday.  But this was no ordinary party and no ordinary young man.  Grajales is a quadruple amputee, who doesn’t let his “inconvenience” stop him.  The highlights of his day included meeting his idol and fellow countryman Mariano Rivera, and the chance to throw out the first pitch before that evening’s game.

Tuesday: Jane Lang is a remarkable woman.  The blind Yankees fan often takes the train from her Morris Plains, NJ home to Yankee Stadium.   She’s accompanied by her seeing eye dog, Clipper (were you expecting a name better than that?).  On this particular Tuesday, Jane had some company for her ride in to see the Yankees face the Tigers.  Manager Joe Girardi, former star Tino Martinez and current Yankees, including Joba Chamberlain, took the train ride in with the spirited Lang.

And don’t think the Yankees themselves aren’t touched by those that they touch.  David Robertson marveled at the unstoppable Lang.

“Jane’s unbelievable. I can’t believe that she does this,” said Robertson. “I can’t imagine not being able to see everything going on, and she does it without fail.” (quote courtesy of Tim Britton, mlb.com)

Wednesday:  Sabathia, Reggie Jackson, and Brian Cashman are pretty good company to be in.  But it was the three Yankees representatives, among others, that were honored to be in the presence of  Mohamed Kamara.  The Sierra Leone native lived through abject poverty, a civil war, and unspeakable violence before coming to the United States.  Kamara may be the hardest working man not in show business, raising money and awareness for his beloved country. With Mayor Bloomberg in tow, the contingent toured the city’s hot spots, including the NYSE and the United Nations. Oh, by the way, Kamara is just 17 years old.

Thursday: The members of the Beautiful People organization were honored at Yankee Stadium.  From their own website, “The mission of Beautiful People is to build bridges between children with disabilities and their families and the broader community of Orange County, NY by providing adaptive sports for children ages 5-18.”

Each of the Yankees players were paired with a child and a volunteer to work on hitting, throwing, running, and generally having fun. Even the Bleacher Creatures got involved, doing roll call for each of the children.

Friday: “Would you like an autograph with those fries?”  Melida Arias was manning her station at a Bronx fast food establishment when Alex Rodriguez, Robinson Cano, Tony Pena, and others strolled into the restaurant.  A stunned Arias and her sister Johanna were being honored for their courage and stick-to-itiveness in getting an education and bettering their lives.  The sisters and their mother lived in boarding houses and shelters as their mother battled illness.  Both have graduated high school and have been awarded internships.  This Fall, Melida will be the first in her family to attend college.  Johanna was accepted to Syracuse two years ago, but the family couldn’t afford it.  She’s not giving up on her education or a professional career though.  The two sisters, who went on a shopping spree in the city, have very bright futures ahead of them.

So there you have it.  I’m not saying kids should look up to ball players for anything more than the way they can hit a curveball, dunk a basketball, shoot a puck, etc..  But it’s nice that some players are showing youngsters the way to treat people with the dignity, respect, and honor they deserve.  That is something that can be looked up to.

Drew Sarver is the Yankees content editor and contributor  for BaseballDigest.com.  You can also read his work at his blog, My Pinstripes. He can be contacted at mypinstripes@gmail.com and followed on Twitter.

I imagine the conversation between the Mets and Jeff Francouer went something like this…

Francouer enters the office to find Jeff Wilpon, Omar Minaya and other members of Mets management looking glum.

Francouer: What’s up guys?

Mets: Wow, this is, um, this isn’t easy for us to do.

Francouer: What’s going on?

Mets: Well, when we first, you know, got together last year we really thought this could go somewhere.

Francouer: Me too.

Mets: But I think we both know that it’s just not working out.

Francouer: Is it my walk-up music?  I just wanted to try something a little different.

Mets: No, it’s not that.  Sure it’s terrible, but our issues go way beyond that.

Francouer: Yeah, I guess there have been problems for some time now.

Mets: Right.  That’s why we think it would be best if we were just friends.

Francouer takes a deep breath and sighs.

Francouer: I had a feeling this day was coming…Yeah, this is probably for the best.

Mets: Believe us, this isn’t easy.  And you were great, really.  The way you came in here and tried to liven up the clubhouse.

Francouer: That was fun, wasn’t it?

Mets: Sure was.  And your arm, it’s absolutely beautiful.

Francouer: Don’t make this harder than it has to be.

Mets: It’s not you, it’s us.  We need to focus on our team right now, and we just don’t see you as part of our future.

Francouer: We did have some good times though, didn’t we?

Mets: Great times.  The homeruns, the outfield assists, all the laughs and smiles.

Francouer: And some not-so-good times.

Mets: So many K’s.

Francouer: Don’t forget that unassisted triple play.

Mets: That was awful.

They share a laugh.

Francouer: So what now?

Mets: Well, we’ve traded you to the Texas Rangers.

Francouer: For what?

Mets: Does it really matter, Jeff?

Francouer: No, I suppose it doesn’t.

They stand and give each other an awkward, but friendly, hug.

Mets: Good luck out there.

Francouer: Thanks, to you too.

Mets: Maybe one day we’ll cross paths in the postseason.

Francouer: I’d like that.

Francouer smiles as he leaves the office.

Francouer’s spirit, optimism and character, not to mention his cannon of an arm, will likely be missed.  Then again, the free agency bound outfielder had no spot in the team’s future plans and his poor performance at the plate this season made him easily expendable.  When interviewers spoke with him after news of the trade broke, Frenchy maintained his class by telling reporters how much he appreciated his time with the Mets, as well as how much he appreciated being traded to a contender.

During his tenure, Francouer led the Mets in games played (despite a season-ending injury in 2009) and was second on the team in homeruns.   More than the numbers though, his efforts on and off the field were what endeared him to fans.

Generally I find that Mets fans either root against, or ignore, former Mets players.  In Frenchy’s case though, I’m going to bet that most fans will be pulling for him for the rest of his career..as long as he stays in the AL and off the Yankees.

Shai Kushner is the Mets Content Editor for BaseballDigest.com.  Email Shai at: BaseballDigestShai@gmail.com.

People talk about the great A.J., the good A.J., and the bad A.J.; tonight each made an appearance.  But unlike that winless August, Burnett hung tough, finishing strong in his final inning and, in the process, gave the Yankees some length from their starter.  Had it not been for a rested bullpen, Girardi said he most likely would have sent Burnett out for the 7th inning. Burnett said afterwards he can’t worry about “What the manager is saying/doing concerning the rotation.  I just need to go out and do my job.”

Burnett got an early boost from the Yankees offense.  Mark Teixeira drove in three runs on the night, putting the Yankees on the board in the 1st inning with an RBI double off A’s starter Brett Anderson.  Up 2-0 an inning later, Tex ripped a single through the left side to plate a pair of runners for a 4-0 lead.  Texeira single handedly has destroyed the A’s in the first three games of the series, going 8-10 with a walk and a hit by pitch in 12 plate appearances.

The A’s chipped away and cut the lead to a single run in the 6th when Burnett left a fastball up to Kevin Kouzmanoff with a man aboard.  The third baseman deposited it into the seats in right-center and suddenly it was a ball game.  Daric Barton came within inches of tying the game in the 5th when he narrowly missed the left field foul pole with a long drive, before adding to his American League lead in walks. But Burnett got Kurk Suzuki, who had two hits on the night, to fly out to end the inning.

Joba Chamberlain, Boone Logan, Kerry Wood, and Mariano Rivera finished off the night, with Rivera earning his 28th save, but this game was all about Burnett.  Afterwards, Girardi was quite pleased with his starting pitcher.

“I thought he had good command tonight, for the most part.  His curveball was excellent tonight; he threw some really good changeups.  He had a couple of strikeouts with them..at times they looked like hard splits.  And when he gave up some runs, he went out and got some big outs.  That’s the main thing. I liked his approach and I liked what he did.”

Girardi also called the victory, “a personality win”, paraphrasing an old Don Zimmer adage about a “personality hit”.  Pitching coach Dave Eiland added, “This is a good win to build on.”

Derek Jeter, who reached on a hit and an error and scored two runs, knew how big Burnett’s start was.  ”It goes without saying that A.J. is a big part of this team.  He’s a guy who is capable of going out there and dominating games.  I thought this was a step in the right direction for him.”

Jeter’s teammates certainly hope he is right.

Notes

In addition to activating Lance Berkman from the disabled list, the Yankees added Jonathan Albaladejo, Greg Golson, and Chad Moeller to the expanded 40-man roster.  In addition, Damaso Marte was moved to the 60-day DL.

Austin Kearn’s snapped an 0-19 skid with a single in the 3rd inning.

Curtis Granderson’s season continues to improve.  Prior to the game he said, “I feel good about my swing.  I just want to continue to contribute down the stretch”.   The Grandy man had two hits off left-hander Brett Anderson tonight and is hitting .409 (9-22) against lefties since August 12.

Teixeira’s hot hitting continued despite a sore foot sustained when he was hit by a Vin Mazzaro pitch in Tuesday’s game.  Prior to the game Tex told me that the foot was sore, but manageable and that his thumb felt good as well.

Moeller’s call up came just in the nick of time.  Though he might not have pinch-hit Jorge Posada for Francisco Cervelli had the third catcher not been there, it was crucial when Posada was ejected after arguing a called third strike in the 8th inning.

Boone Logan struck out the only batter he faced, Jack Cust, and has retired 27 of the last 31 left-handed hitters he’s faced.

Ed Hearn, who saw action in 49 games for the Mets’ last World Championship team, is looking to invoke some of that magic as he battles the kidney disease Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS).  Hearn has had three kidney transplants as part of a continuing ordeal that started shortly after his retirement from baseball in 1991. For the past several years, he has served as an Ambassador for The NephCure Foundation, which funds research into FSGS and Nephrotic Syndrome. These are diseases for which there are no approved treatments and no cure.

Hearn, also known as one of the primary players dealt to the Mets in exchange for David Cone prior to the 1987 season, will be honored Friday, September 10, before the Mets- Phillies game as part of Ed Hearn/NephCure Foundation Night at Citi Field.

An author and motivational speaker, Hearn lives in Kansas City, Mo., with his wife, Tricia, and 16 year-old son, Cody.  His perseverance and life messages have inspired audiences all over the country as he travels to hospitals and dialysis centers to bring hope to patients who face similar challenges.

Ed Hearn

For NephCure, Hearn records public service announcements, makes speaking appearances and participates in fundraising activities in support of NephCure, which has committed over $6 million to research since 2008.  In January, Hearn was one of the NephCure’s team leaders for the Chase Community Giving program, helping NephCure secure a $25,000 grant by finishing in the top 100 from among some 500,000 smaller non-profit organizations.

Also in attendance at Citi Field on September 10 will be former Mets General Manager Jim Duquette, whose daughter, Lindsey, also suffers from FSGS.  A member of The NephCure Foundation Board of Directors, Duquette’s daughter, now eight years-old, was diagnosed with FSGS in 2005 after being rushed to the hospital emergency room directly from Shea Stadium, where she was attending a game with her parents.

For more information about the NephCure Foundation, or to purchase tickets to the game with a portion of the cost donated to NephCure and matched by research institutions, fans can visit www.savingkidneys.org.  Hearn will also sign autographs and greet fans at NephCure tables on the Citi Field concourses on the 10th.

Only Francisco Cordero, Arthur Rhodes, and Nick Masset have been locks in the pen since opening day. Entering the season these 3 guys was suppose to be the 2nd coming of the Nasty Boys. After the way all 3 pitched in 2009, a lot of people expected Masset to threaten Cordero for the 9th inning. It did not start off that way but as the season goes on, these 3 have really turned up the heat.

Arthur Rhodes has by far been the most constant of that group. Earning his first All-Star selection of his 19 year career. To date he has had one of his best seasons of his career. Including a major league record tying streak of 33 scoreless appearances. As the left handed set up man Rhodes will continue to be a key cog in the Reds chances of locking down the National League Central division.

Nick Masset began the year on a rocky note giving up 5 runs on 3 hits versus the Cardinals. He continued allowing runs, hits and walks in the first half of the season. In his 45 games leading up to the All-Star break Massett had a 5.26 ERA with a 3-3 record and 9 holds. Opposing hitters was hitting at a .292 clip against him. Since the break though, Massett has 7 holds, 1 save a 0.36 ERA and holding batters to a .131 clip. Not to mention he has only allowed 11 hits and 6 walks while striking out 6. The lone run he has giving up was a home run and one reached 102.7mph.

After coming off a 39 save season with a solid 2.16 ERA. Francisco Cordero was believed to be a front tier closer coming into 2010. Much like Masset though 2010 did not start off as expected for Cordero. In his 43 games before the break Cordero was 3-3 with 24 saves and 6 blown saves and a 4.20 ERA. Much like Masset though the post All-Star numbers are much better. With a 2-1 record, 11 saves 0 blown saves and a 2.29 ERA, batters are hitting 99 points lower against him over this span as well. However, his walks are still high, 13 in 19 games.

With now a 7 game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals and a huge 3 game series coming up this weekend in St. Louis. These guys will be huge down the stretch run. However, these guys do have help.

Logan Ondrusek broke camp this year with Cincinnati, but was back in AAA Louisville by the end of April. In his 9 April starts he gave up 3 or more runs in 3 games. Ondrusek returned to Cincinnati in June and had a stretch of 20 games where he did not allow a run.

Bill Bray missed all of the 2009 season due to Tommy John surgery. Bray finally returned to Cincinnati on June 28th but allowed 2 runs in 1 inning so his ERA will remain high all season. Looking at Bray’s stats his achillies heel is that when he gives up a run its more than 1. In the month of August Bray has appeared in 14 games allowing 4 runs those 4 runs came in 2 games. So overall while Bray might not have set up or closer stuff, he does appear to be more than capable of helping this team down the stretch.

Now its time for the interesting part, a week ago Mike Leake was sent to the pen to limit his innings down the stretch. Since that time he has been put on the 15-day disabled list due to arm fatigue. Since Aaron Harang rehab assignment it had been said he would return to Cincinnati in a relief role. However, due to Edison Volquez’s inconsistent performances it was Volquez who was shipped to the pen not Harang. A move that could really help the team, if Harang can regain even a little of his old form. Volquez should be able to pitch better out of the pen due to the fact that he can let it all hang out and not worry about having enough to get through 6 innings. When Leake went on the disabled list the team recalled Sam LeCure, who has looked very well in limited time with the club. Then just yesterday(August 31st) Aroldis Chapman was finally called up and made his MLB debut. Working a perfect 8th inning with a strike out versus the Milwaukee Brewers. Chapman only needed 8 pitches to get out of the 8th , 7 of which where strikes

It will be interesting to say the least to see how Dusty Baker handles all of these arms down the stretch. One would think that Chapman could help give Masset and Rhodes a rest. However as far as what Volquez and LeCure or Leake’s role in the pen will depend on how they pitch. On paper though, it really looks like all the starters will need to do is get through the 5th or 6th inning with the team ahead or in reach.

WWPM MediaNet is exploring the third launch in a history of attempts to bring mainstream radio content to fans across the internet. A company that encompasses an internet radio station and two former over the air broadcast radio stations in Paducah, Kentucky and Burlington, Iowa.

Recently, the United Cardinal Blogger Radio Hour, a show occasionally hosted by Bill Ivie, was approached for rebroadcast rights on WWPM Media radio during the weekend time slots. Due to relationships formed by the founder of the UCB Radio Hour, Daniel Shoptaw, and Bill Ivie, the UCB Radio Hour and I-70 Baseball Radio Hour were recommended to Jake Leonard, president and CEO of WWPM Holdings Corporation.

When asked about the reach of WWPM MediaNet, Jake Leonard proudly stated “With current shows hailing from Philadelphia (PA), Chicago (IL), Memphis (TN), Hot Springs (AR), Springfield (MO & IL) and Des Moines (IA), we’re slowly gaining a national audience. We have been glad to say that in our current attempt, we have been glad to know that about 150 of our armed forces have tuned in while in Afghanistan and Iraq. To current date, we have about 8,000 listeners and that slowly increases by the day.”

Jake also talked about the growth of WWPM MediaNet and had this to say:

We intend to broadcast online longer than the past two attempts we did before. However, despite the lack thereof of advertising support and not enough budget allotted by our parent company WWPM Holdings Corporation, we are in serious need of listener support. We are a listener-supported commercial Internet station, so financial assistance for grants will be more difficult for us as compared to non-commercial Internet and AM/FM stations who are non-profit organizations. We just implemented a Members Club program that you can check out on our website at http://www.wwpmmedianet.info. We’re already in need of upgrading some equipment, including purchasing a full edition of SAM Broadcaster, which we utilize for all programming on our station.

Knowing that our markets are HUGE on baseball and sports overall, they expect that there will be programming that will satisfy their needs. First through the gate was Philadelphia’s Sickness Radio. Knowing our prior relationship on BlogTalkRadio, general manager Tommy Heinsinger was anything but reluctant at the suggestion of syndication on another radio network. No sooner I got that show arranged and scheduled, Eric Lamb from Chicago Baseball Week In Review emailed me within the debut week about being aired (which was discussed even as early as May, before the station relaunched). All of a sudden, my schedule slowly fills up, with definite appreciation from Ray Kluever from “Living With Sportz”, Daniel Shoptaw (a vital part of United Cardinal Bloggers), Vance Media Corporation (“AgriTalk: The Voice of Rural America”) and last but not least, Bill Ivie from i70baseball. With our schedule slowly filling up, WWPM MediaNet will be a force to reckoned with – it is becoming a hit on Facebook (and even though it seems unconventional, ReverbNation).

I-70 Baseball Radio, which can be heard every Monday night on BlogTalkRadio.com, is thrilled to join the WWPM MediaNet family on Tuesday evenings at 5 pm central time with a rebroadcast of our Monday Night show.

The first show will air September 7th and can be heard at WWPM MediaNet’s website by clicking here.

Girardi feels the rest Vazquez has had working out of the pen, coupled with an adjustment in mechanics, has gotten Vazquez back on track.  Girardi feels the right-hander’s fastball has been “truer”, which has resulted in good location and success. Pitching coach Dave Eiland later added that he made an adjustment in Vazquez’s leg kick and moved him to the middle of the rubber to ensure he “gets behind the baseball.”

Girardi also was firm in stating that A.J. Burnett is not pitching for his spot in the rotation this evening.  Girardi reminded the media just how “big A.J. was for us last year”, citing game two of the World Series as an example.

The Yankees had some big news today too.  Andy Pettitte may very well be making progress.  The left-hander threw a 30 pitch warm up in the bullpen, sat for five minutes, and then threw a simulated inning.  He felt good after “airing it out”, but admitted he’s still a bit mentally tentative when he takes the hill.   Pettitte said he expects to experience some soreness in the area (groin) tomorrow, just as he did after his last session, but also expects to feel good on Friday.  ”Today was the first day I was really able to focus on my release point and pitching”.  Pettitte also said he will not be activated by the Yankees without throwing in a minor league game first.

One other injury note – Alex Rodriguez took live BP today out on the field and felt good afterwards.  But he’s still very cautious and will not return unless he’s one-hundred percent healthy.  ”I’m taking a very precautionary approach; I’m being very conservative.  We want to make sure we’re as close to one-hundred percent as possible.”  A-Rod said he suffered no setbacks, on this his second day of starting to step things up.  A-Rod added that he’ll “see how things feel tomorrow”, use some heat and ice, and he “will continue the protocal Geno (Monahan) has set for me.”

The Yankees were already in first place in the AL East entering tonight’s play. Their spirits have to be buoyed by the possible return of Andy Pettitte and Alex Rodriguez on the close horizon.

Drew Sarver is the Yankees content editor and contributor  for BaseballDigest.com.  You can also read his work at his blog, My Pinstripes. He can be contacted at mypinstripes@gmail.com and followed on Twitter.

Worthington was drafted by the Diamondbacks in round 20 of the 2009 MLB draft.  The young righty had a superb 2009 season with the Missoula Osprey (Rookie) of the Pioneer League.  In 19 games as a relief pitcher, Worthington compiled five wins, four losses, two saves, a 1.82 ERA and 0.98 WHIP.

The 23 year-old currently pitches for the South Bend Silver Hawks (A) of the Midwest League.  Worthington is currently 5-6 with a 5.19 ERA; however, his ERA was inflated by rough starts.  Worthington is 2-5 with a 7.65 ERA as a starter; however, he continues to have success as a relief pitcher.

In 11 games of relief, Worthington is 3-1 with a 1.17 ERA and 0.96 WHIP.  Worthington has struck out 26 batters in 23 innings of relief.  As a reliever, hitters are only hitting .200 off Worthington.

Click below to listen to Worthington’s interview with Gotham Baseball LIVE.

Click below to observe Worthington’s statistics.

Christopher Wenrich is a fantasy baseball contributor for baseballdigest.com and a fantasy football contributor for gothamgridiron.com.  He can be reached at philliesmuse@yahoo.com

With Francisco Cordero entrenched in the closer role for Dusty Baker’s squad, Chapman will settle into a late inning set-up role. As the fireballer out of an already strong bullpen, the Reds’ young stud will be able to add fantasy value even if he doesn’t contribute saves to your team.

In his first outing against Milwaukee, Chapman showed mastery of both his fastball and slider, moving them around both sides of the plate effectively. Because of that once-in-a-generation fastball, Aroldis has the ability to contribute mightily in the strikeout department. After striking out 49 men in 30 innings during his relief stint at Triple-A Louisville, Chapman seems to have carried over the ability to induce swings and misses in the big leagues.

On top of striking out batters, the 6’4 lefty has been almost unhittable in the minor leagues and his one inning of major league work. While in the Louisville bullpen this year, Chapman allowed only 29 batters to reach base in his 30 innings. If last night was any indicator of the lefthander’s future, for this year if not long term, then the Reds have significantly upgraded their bullpen for the pennant race.

With the Reds looking to finish off the Cards by the middle of September, Aroldis Chapman will play an important role in maintaining Cincinnati’s NL Central lead and racking up fantasy points.

2010 Season Record: 80-50

The Toronto Blue Jays have been a thorn in the side of the the Yankees all season and it continued last week with a series at the Rogers Centre.   The series kicked off with a 3-2 loss in which Toronto slugger Jose Bautista provided all the excitement in the game with his bat and with his mouth.  Themajor league leader in home runs hit his 39th and 40thbombs of the season and in between the took exception to a head high pitch from Yankees rookie Ivan Nova.

Even though Nova clearly wasn’t throwing at Bautista, Bautista had some comments for Nova who didn’t back down for a second. Then Bautista went even further and started to head to the mound, which emptied the dugouts and bullpens.  Thankfully ordered was restored rather quickly without any violence occurring.    Though the Yankees lost,  Nova turned in a very respectable performance by allowing two earned runs in 5.1 innings pitched.

Dustin Moseley took the mound in a much less dramatic Game 2; however the game was definitely not short on fireworks.  The Bombers’ bats struck back with a vengeance- blasting five home runs.  Mark Teixeira, Derek Jeter, Jorge Posada, Marcus Thames, and Curtis Granderson all went deep.   Moseley threw an effective six innings and the Yankees rolled to an 11-5 victory.

In the final game of the series Toronto’s bats once again got the better of Yankees’ starting pitcher.  The Blue Jays left Phil Hughes feeling blue, knocking the right-hander out of hte game after just 3.2 innings pitched.  Hughes control was an issue – he walked 5 batters – and allowed five runners to cross the plate.  Despite a brilliant relief performance from Javier Vazquez, one earned run allowed over 4.1 innings pitched, the Bombers still lost the game, 6-3, and the series as well.

After a much needed day off, the team traveled to Chicago to take on the White Sox.  It was a huge series since Chicago is in a division race of it’s own, chasing the Minnesota Twins in the AL Central.

AJ Burnett took the mound for the Yankees in Game 1 and his struggles continued.  The slumping pitcher allowed eight earned runs in only 3.1 innings, including a four spot the 1st inning alone.  Veteran Freddy Garcia took advantage of the run support (7 IP, 1 ER) and the Chisox beat the Yankees 9-4.

The Bombers’ bats struck back with a vengeance in Game 2 by hitting four home runs in a wild 12-9 win.  The big flies were hit by Edwin Nunez (his 1st career home run), Nick Swisher and Marcus Thames, who hit a pair of long balls.  CC Sabathia struggled early for the Yanks, allowing five earned runs in seven innings, but picked up his 18th win of the season.

The series finale pitted Nova against veteran John Danks in a game that was that anti-thesis of Saturday’s slugest.   In his second career start Nova shut down Chicago’s offense, allowing only 1 earned run in 5.2 innings and the bullpen excelled the rest of the way.  Meanwhile on the offensive side, red hot Marcus Thames provided a solo shot and Brett Gardner added an RBI and the Bombers won the game 2-1.

Pinstriped Positives:

Kerry Wood was an after thought by many baseball fans when he was acquired from the Cleveland Indians at the trade deadline.  They had witnessed his struggles and his history of injuries.  However Wood has quickly become a dependablee arm in the Yankees bullpen.  Since donning the Pinstripes, Wood is 1-0 with a 0.71 ERA and has 15 strikeouts in 12.2 innings.

Sticking with pitching the Yankees recent rookie call up, Ivan Nova, has been very impressive so far.  Nova in two starts against tough offensive teams, the Blue Jays and White Sox, is 1-0 with a 2.45 ERA in 14 innings pitched.  Nova has been a nice shot in the arm to the Yankees rotation, which has been scuffling of late.

Marcus Thames has really been killing the ball lately.  In his last 10 games Thames is hitting .294(10-34) and has 6 home runs with 12 RBI.

Negatives:

Derek Jeter has continued to struggle at the plate.  The Captain is batting .135 (5-37) with 1 HR and 4 RBI in his last 10 games.  His current .266 average is well below his career .314 average.

AJ Burnett must be the happiest player on the team now that August is over.  Burnettwent 0-4, 7.80 in 5 August starts, averaging just six innings each time out.

What’s Next:

The Bombers will head back to the Stadium to take on the young and talented Oakland Athletics and those hard hitting Toronto Blue Jays.  The Bombers ended the last full week in August in a tie atop the AL East with the Tampa Rays.  The toughest division in baseball looks like it’s going to come down to the last few days of the season.

John Fetter is a regular Yankees contributor for Baseball Digest.  He can be reached at jfetter@sportstalk88.com.

Niemann did better in his start Tuesday night against the Blue Jays, but better should be served as a caution. He could not have been any worse than his first start.

The Rays starter started off well for the first few innings by throwing 55 pitches prior to the fifth inning. He struck out three guys after three innings, and his only run allowed came on a home run by John McDonald.

After the Blue Jays took a 1-0 lead, Niemann received run support by getting three runs to work with heading to the sixth inning.  The Rays hoped he could pitch two more good innings and hand it to  Joaquin Benoit and Rafael Soriano to finish it up.

Niemann failed to execute the plan. His arm tired out in the sixth inning. He gave up five straight hits, and he hit Jose Bautista. The Rays’ 3-1 lead turned into a 6-3 deficit, and Joe Maddon mercifully took his starter out of the game.

Since his return, Niemann gave up 17 runs and 15 hits over his past 8 2/3 innings. This is un-Niemann like.

One wonders if he is healthy enough to pitch or if the Rays rushed him too soon. It is easy to second-guess the organization and make a statement like that after this happened, but after his two starts, it’s easy to question the Rays’ decision.

Niemann could have had several more rehab starts before he was ready to pitch. What was the rush? The rosters get added on September 1st, so the Rays had plenty of time for Niemann to get his work in and have him ready by then.

It may have been a better route. If not, maybe the Rays should have sent Niemann to the bullpen for a few outings. By being in the bullpen, Niemann can get acclimated with the workload in the majors again.

What was the rush to have him start? With the way Jeremy Hellickson was pitching, there was no need to get Niemann in the fold too soon. One can say the same thing for Wade Davis, but at least, he managed to work his way in the rotation seamlessly since being activated from the disabled list.

Maddon should have taken him out after the fifth inning on Tuesday night. He knows starters don’t go past five or six after an injury. After an awful start against the Angels, it was a reasonable request for the Rays to handle Niemann with care.

It will be interesting how Niemann does in his next few starts. The Rays are relying on him to win some games in the pennant race, but if he can’t do it, he becomes useless.

It’s hard to say if his shoulder is hurting. Niemann claims that he is fine. By the way he pitched to start the game, it looked fine.

Maybe it’s the aftereffects of the injury. Sometimes, pitchers tend to be great and lose it.

The Rays hope he recovers quickly. They have to pray these two starts are just hiccups at best.  If this is what the Rays are going to see out of Niemann the rest of the way, they are going to be in trouble. They need him if they want to win the American League East and win the championship.

Sure, the Rays can get by with three good starters, but to slay off the Yankees and the Phillies, they need all five starters at the top of their game.  There’s no guarantee a starter will win all his postseason games, so the Rays need a starter to pick up that other starter if he loses a game.

To expect David Price, Wade Davis and Matt Garza to win every start is unrealistic. That’s where guys like James Shields and Niemann matter. Those two can pick up either of those three after a bad outing.

If Niemann can’t figure it out from now until October, this will not end well for the Rays. Talk about Jeremy Hellickson replacing Niemann, but that’s not what the Rays want to do.

The Rays’ relief has been spotty to the point Maddon uses his reliever for an out and nothing more. Hellickson can pitch out of the pen for many innings in a game. That’s where he would serve the Rays well.

Also, the Rays don’t want to waste any more innings out of Hellickson if he starts. The Rays set a limit on how many innings Hellickson can pitch this year.

What the Rays hope is these two outings by Niemann were nothing more than aberration. It’s the only best scenario they can think of right now.

If not, the Rays should be called out for the way they handled Niemann.

Read Bill’s Article By Clicking Here

Erika Lynn checked in the following day with her thoughts on the subject, taking a look at players as role models from the eyes of a parent and relatively new fan of professional baseball.

Read Erika’s Article By Clicking Here

Today I include my thoughts as the resident “Canadian Corespondent” and someone from outside the United States.

As a Major League Baseball player steps to the plate, knocks a muck of excess mud from his cleats, and flawlessly releases a gob from his lips in the form of brown saliva and Redman Chewing Tobacco, it is a wonder if people can actually presume such a specimen to be a role model. Don’t get me wrong, I am a baseball hound with a hunger for red hot fastballs, spicy diving catches, and slow-cooked solo home runs. But, I cannot honestly say that I would legitimately suggest that anyone, especially young tykes, should religiously follow a professional baseball player as a means of learning the proper way to live a life.

I was raised in a blue-collar mining community in Canada’s lovely mid-west where dirty jeans accompany stainless steel lunchboxes and pickup trucks act as limousines for locals traveling to and from ballgames, ranch land, and hockey practice…especially hockey practice. It is a place where respect can only be earned through hard work, dedication to one’s passions, and kindness that can only be found in small, quaint communities. It is these qualities that I personally look for, and recommend that others seek, when trying to find a role model that can truly be called a hero; because a role model to me has to stand high atop mountains with qualities of heroic proportions. And to me, even a Triple-Crown winner will not suffice.

Care-givers, teachers, artists, and volunteer firefighters, yes we have these in rural Canada, are just a few drips in the potential role model bucket that rest underneath a rain-gutter forged by people like Mother Teresa, Tommy Douglas (Canada’s Medicare pioneer), and Hunter S. Thompson (in a bizarre debauchery-blown kind of way). Role models are people that would do their jobs for a handful of ballpark peanuts and still smile once they ran out of overpriced ballpark beer to wash them down with. They are the people who do not expect applause, cheers, or the occasional appearance on the Late Show. Rather, they often prefer a handshake, a congratulations, or advice from others that proof to the person that people do care and are paying attention to their work no matter how many fireworks, shaving cream pies, or interviews occur after all is said and done.

It is true, a hero is born nearly every night on the baseball diamond, but the timely hit, enormous strikeout, or cleverly stolen base is usually only remember until suppertime the next day, or whenever the team takes the field next. I look for timeless role models. The ones that will be remember by nations around the world. The ones that would rather cloth the underprivileged and unfortunate instead of taking an actress to a four-digit restaurant rendezvous. Role models are the ones that can and will bring happiness for the many years to come.

Sure, baseball players have the power to deliver immediate highs, the ones that force your heart to throb inside your chest like an overfilled water balloon, but dissipate as quickly as it arrives. Instead of role models I believe baseball players should be used as poster boys for healthy living. Exercise is what this generation needs, and perhaps these, usually, fit athletes could promote better living this way. Instead of bombarding our youth with hours of baseball on television, players could teach the wellness of sport so today’s youth will opt to actually play the game. But role models? Not for me.

Gaby Sanchez packs some pop in his bat and is capable of launching 20+ home runs in a given season.  For the season, he is currently hitting .285 with 16 home runs and 70 RBIs.  Projected over the course of 162 games, Sanchez would have 21 home runs and 92 RBIs.

Sanchez can be quite the streaky hitter.  Sanchez hit .273 in April and March, followed by a .262 AVG in May.  He hit an incredible .375 in June; however, he hit .250 in July and is currently hitting .258 in August.  Despite the .258 AVG in August, Sanchez has 21 RBIs this month (five more than he had in any other month).  When observing Sanchez’s 2010 splits, you will see Jekyll-and-Hyde numbers in the Marlins’ wins and losses.

Sanchez in 62 wins
.307 AVG
11 HR
48 RBI

Sanchez in 62 losses
.262 AVG
5 HR
22 RBI

Don’t forget that this is Sanchez’s first full year as an MLB regular.  As he gains more playing time and experience, he may develop more consistency.

Morrison is an excellent young talent with tremendous potential.  The 22 year-old lefty reminds me of a young Lance Berkman.  Morrison put up fantastic numbers with the New Orleans Zephyrs (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League.  In 68 games, Morrison hit .307 with 17 doubles, four triples, six home runs and 45 RBIs.  He also carried a .427 OBP and .914 OPS as well.

Morrison is currently batting .294 with a .400 OBP after 30 MLB games.  In 25 games this month, Morrison is hitting .313 with one home run and eight RBIs.  Morrison is an on-base machine who is surprisingly patient for his age.  In 117 plate appearances this month, Morrison already has 20 walks.  Over the past 30 days, only Miguel Cabrera (28), Daric Barton (25) and Jose Bautista (22) drew more walks than Morrison.

Add Morrison and Sanchez from waivers if they’re available in your league.  The streaky Sanchez continues to drive in runs and Morrison will continue to improve.  You should also consider protecting Morrison in keeper leagues.

Christopher Wenrich is a Fantasy Sports contributor for BaseballDigest.com and GothamGridiron.com.  He can be reached at philliesmuse@yahoo.com