Roto Chronicles: National League, July 28

This week’s top performers are headlined by older names, mixed with some future talent, while those who played poorly are quite surprising.

The second half of the season is well underway and some players are getting extended playing time because some teams are looking toward the future. As the trade deadline looms, some players are gaining stock while some are losing it. This may ultimately affect their trade possibilities. This week’s top performers are headlined by older names, mixed with some future talent, while those who played poorly are quite surprising.

Rut:

Kosuke Fukudome: Fukodome has been sliding since after the all-star break. He hasn’t been able to find his groove at the plate which could be problematic coming down the stretch. His average has slipped to .277. While that’s still good, his stance at the plate has changed. What’s more, he’s struck out eight times since the break. He was moved down in the order to put some pressure off of him, which may help in the long run, but as of now the payoff doesn’t seem to be there. Look for him to improve because he has been in a slump before and broke out of it relatively quickly.

Lastings Milledge: Milledge hasn’t gotten a hit for the second half of the season, but he never was much of an offensive person to begin with. Milledge has been mentioned as possible trade bait, but the way he’s been playing lately, I doubt he’ll be going anywhere. It is true he’s coming off the DL, but given his history at the plate, don’t count on him to have a late season surge. He is good at stealing bases, swiping 13 of them this season, but he needs to get on base more to do so. His .239 average is mediocre and seven homeruns isn’t something to brag about.

Dan Uggla: From homerun derby participant to sputtering player. He only has three hits since the all-star game, but fortunately one of those hits was a homerun. However, to his credit he does have 4 runs in the week. He’s batting .167 on the week, but good players never stay down for long. Perhaps he’s still recovering from the fact that he didn’t have a hit in the all-star game or the fact that he’s putting more pressure on himself to perform at a higher level because the Marlins are within striking distance of the NL East title. It’s still advisable to play him. He could break out of his slump at anytime and with games against the Mets and Colorado coming up, he may just do that.

Edinson Volquez: He started the season off very hot and it didn’t look like he was hittable. Now, we are seeing what his kryptonite is. Against Colorado, he pitched four innings, giving up five runs, seven hits, and two homeruns. The start before that against the Mets, he pitched five innings, and gave up four runs, factoring in a no decision. Perhaps he’s a first half wonder, but good players often will have times in the season where they can’t seem to get it right. Right now is one of those times. His fastball has tailed off and he’s giving out more walks than he normally does a game (averaged 1.2 walks per game). What made Volquez feared in the first half of the season was his ability to strike batters out. He is still young so give him some time to develop. His next opponent is Houston, which has found their bats coming to life, but I suggest sitting him until he gets to the point where he can put together a string of good outings.

Ryan Franklin: It may be that Isringhausen rubbed off on Franklin before he took over the closer role. He’s blown two saves this week and taking two losses in the process. He was an unstoppable force, but now it seems he can’t get anyone out. His average WHIP in his last four games is 1.85. That won’t win you games, but the Cardinals don’t have a viable closer in the pen unless they bring back Isringhausen and we know how well he did in that role. Issy is getting it back together, but right now, he’s making his mark as a set-up man. If you need a closer, don’t look for Franklin to get it done. In fact, with changes taking place because of the trade deadline, Franklin may find himself relieved of his position quicker than he expected.

Royalty:

Conor Jackson: Jackson is one of the most underrated sluggers in the league. His name has been mentioned in trade bait for Teixiera, but a trade is unlikely to be made. A .322 batting average can’t be ignored. Neither can 11 homeruns and 63 runs scored. He’s on a five game hitting streak which he is batting .400 with an OBP of .500. He is dominating at the plate, and it’s very hard to strike him out as his 35 strikeouts on the season indicate. Play him everyday. He is young and he may hit a snag, but it’s still worth playing him because odds are he can make something happen with the at-bat.

Ian Stewart: Stewart wanted another chance to show what he’s made of and how he’s got it. Called up for the third time this season, he hasn’t disappointed with this round of play. He’s been batting .411 since being called back raising his major league average nearly .100 points. He stands at a .310 on the season, and I can say he hasn’t disappointed with his new leash on life. He’s not a homerun threat, but he is getting valuable hits to help his team win, something the Rockies seem to like to do in the second half of the season. Start him and play him as often as you can. He’s a diamond in the rough and if he plays his cards right, could be in for a large payday at season’s end. His defensive range at third base is still an issue, but once he can improve on that, he’ll be a complete player.

Gregor Blanco: Blanco has been a work horse for the Braves this season and his excellent play should net him a nice pay day at season’s end too whether it’s with the Braves or not. He is one of the most consistent lead-off hitters in the league, which is a rarity in the National League. His .267 may not be evidence of such, but since taking over the lead-off spot, he’s hit .313, with an OBP of .366. He doesn’t hit for power because he is lead-off, but as far as talented lead-off hitters are concerned, he provides stability. His longest slide of the season is going 1-15. You should give him a break because he’s now a full-time player and with that, his numbers will surely go up.

CC Sabbathia: CC is finding his niche in another league. Since joining the Brewers he’s had three complete games, 31 strikeouts, and a 1.36 ERA. He is dominating the league and shows no signs of slowing down. In Cleveland, it didn’t look like he would regain his composure, but thankfully he found a way to break out of it. His next opponent will be the Cubs and they are a team that can slug the ball constantly, or go cold at the drop of a hat. I see Sabbathia cooling off their bats in the series.

Freddy Sanchez: Sanchez has a paltry .243 average, but that’s raised .21 points in July. He is batting .413 for the week netting in seven runs. Buyer beware, he may miss the next couple games due to spasms. However, it is still beneficial to ride his hot streak until he gets into trouble at the plate. Play him when you get a chance. In a league where second basemen are an offensive cornerstone, Sanchez falls well short of that; however, as I’ve stated before, good players find themselves getting out of slumps. It seems he’s doing just that.

Players to watch:

Brian Fuentes: Fuentes is the saves man for the Rockies, and with the resurgence of the Rockies, Fuentes will get more save opportunities. Only six games out of first place in the West, the Rockies look poised to take the division. After all, look what happened last season. They didn’t want to loss and the Rockies have won nine out of their last ten.

Jeff Samardzija: Samardzija, the coveted player out of Notre Dame received his first save of the season on Sunday. With Kerry Wood shelved, it may be worth finding Samardzija and seeing what he’s capable of. Wood may see extended time on the DL because if the Cubs are serious about putting out a serious team in the post season, they’ll rest him and make sure he’s ready before rushing him. Now, keep in mind Samardzija is untested, but so far he’s pitched in two games and has 5 strikeouts with a .50 ERA. Let’s see what he’s worth.

Jeremy Hermida: He could be the cornerstone in the outfield of the Marlins. There is no doubt that he has the intangibles to become a dominant outfielder. He’s spent a few years in the league, but if you give him some time, perhaps not this season, but in seasons to come, he could be a dominant presence at the plate and out in the field. He’s far from household name status, but he’s close to being there. Thus far he has slugged 15 homeruns, and is on pace to hit 26, which isn’t bad.