Well this is odd. The Texas Rangers club is pitching poorly. With the fourth worst FIP and the third worst WHIP in all of Major League Baseball – and five pitchers with ERAs above 10.00 – the organization purchased the contract of one of its Top 2 pitching prospects. Left-hander Derek Holland has replaced right-handed reliever Josh Rupe, who was designated for assignment. Rupe had allowed 12 hits in 4.2 innings.

Holland was pitching in Triple-A Oklahoma, where he had made just one start this season. He allowed four runs on five hits and three walks in four innings of work. On the plus side, Holland also struck out five batters and induced four ground balls to just one fly ball. A starter in the minors, Holland is expected to begin his MLB career in the bullpen but it may not be long before he’s given a shot in the rotation considering the poor pitching performances from Kris Benson, Vicente Padilla and Matt Harrison.

Holland had a breakout season in 2007 – just his first full season in the minors after being selected in the 25th round of the 2006 draft out of Wallace State Community College. He signed with Texas the next spring. The southpaw played at three levels in 2008, seeing the most time in A-ball. He allowed 57 hits in 67 innings of work while also posting rates of 2.79 BB/9 and 8.74 K/9. Holland then started five games in High-A ball and four games in Double-A.

Holland’s repertoire is above-average for a left-handed pitcher. He can touch 98 mph with his fastball with excellent movement. His second-best pitch is a change-up, and he’s still working on the consistency of his slider.

Given his inexperience above single A-ball (five games), as well as the history of poor pitching in Texas, Holland probably will not set the world on fire right away. The club is being smart by introducing the left-hander to the Majors as a reliever. The 22-year-old hurler likely won’t have much of an impact at the big league level in 2009 but the experience should help set the foundation for a promising career… Assuming, that is, that the club doesn’t trade him away like Armando Galarraga, Edinson Volquez, and John Danks.

During the offseason, we touched upon the absolutely ridiculous range of the Seattle Mariners’ new outfield. With imports Endy Chavez and Franklin Gutierrez joining Ichiro Suzuki out in the pasture, the M’s figured to possess three center field-worthy gloves to cover the gaps (Ken Griffey Jr. has since been added, to fill the Raul Ibanez comedic relief role).

The potential gain of a Chavez/Gutierrez/Suzuki alignment over Seattle’s consortium of laggardly leather in 2008 is huge, with a swing of perhaps 5 wins (more, if Chavez continues to see the field regularly). Granted, some of those gains will be returned in the hitting department, but the stable of fleet-footed defenders had to be a welcome addition to a pitch-to-contact rotation (M’s starters ranked 22nd in K/9 in 2008, with 5.92).

While Ichiro (ulcer) has only recently returned to the field following his first ever DL stint, Chavez and Gutierrez have put on a clinic in left and center. In ’08, the Mariners’ outfield posted a collective -4.6 UZR/150, meaning that Seattle’s fly-catchers were about five runs worse than average per 150 games played.

In 2009, the M’s outfield has compiled a spit-take worthy 56.9 UZR/150, lapping the field by a significant margin (the Rockies are currently second, with 36 UZR/150). Granted, we are talking about a small sample of games, and no bold claims should be made on defensive numbers in mid-April, but the change in quality has been nothing short of stunning.

Currently, Mariners pitchers have allowed a .128 Batting Average on Balls in Play on flyballs in 2009 (the A.L. average thus far is .230). Last year, M’s hurlers posted a .213 BABIP on flyballs (.215 league average).

Short of finding a way to clone Willie Mays a couple of times, it would be hard to keep up that pace. But, Seattle’s outfield trio comes with glowing scouting reports and the numbers to back them up. Strikeout-challenged starters such as Jarrod Washburn and Carlos Silva might not look quite as bad, with so many balls put in play being converted into outs, and the resurgent Erik Bedard is slanted toward the flyball end of the pitching spectrum.

Outfield defense might not seem like a big deal from a fantasy perspective, but having quality defenders behind a pitcher can be the difference between a guy being roster-worthy or simply waiver fodder. With Chavez, Gutierrez and now Ichiro manning the outfield, whomever takes the mound for the M’s does so with a leg up on the competition.

Pssssst…. Don’t tell Houston but it’s not 2007 anymore. You might also want to avoid telling the organization that it has officially fallen to the 31st worst minor league system in all of Major League Baseball. I’m not sure who No. 30 is now, but it’s definitely not Houston.

In a (polite edit) move, the organization sent second-base prospect Drew Sutton to the Cincinnati Reds as the player-to-be-named in the Jeff Keppinger trade. Now to be fair, I am probably one of the biggest Sutton fans around. As well, though, I have always been a big proponent for Keppinger. But come on… Really? The club’s best (only?) middle-infield prospect – whom I had ranked as the club’s second-best prospect overall – for a veteran utility infielder that hit .266/.310/.346 in 459 at-bats during the 2008 season? The Astros organization apparently thinks it’s acquiring the infielder that hit .332 in 241 at-bats during the 2007 season. With a BABIP of .335 in 2007 and .275 in 2008, Keppinger’s talent level is probably somewhere in between his two most recent seasons.

Maybe Houston just likes small sample sizes. Keppinger is scorching the ball with a .467 average this season in the Majors, while Sutton is struggling at .267 in five Triple-A games. After all, what can we learn by looking at Sutton’s 2008 season? He hit just .317/.408/.523 with 102 runs scored, 39 doubles, 20 homers, and 20 steals in 520 Double-A at-bats. Sutton, a switch-hitter, also posted rates of 12.8 BB% and 18.9 K%. Houston’s Double-A club plays in a pretty good hitter’s league, but the 25-year-old infielder then hit .315/.426/.611 with seven homers in 108 at-bats during the Arizona Fall League.

No, Sutton is probably not going to be a perennial All-Star at the Major League level. He may top out as a utility player not unlike Mr. Keppinger. However, he has the potential to be much, much more. But Houston either does not see that, or understand how that might be more valuable than a dime-a-dozen, established utility player with limited defensive skills whose value lies in hitting southpaws (.354 career vs .261). At the end of the day, it’s yet another questionable move for Houston, which has a laughable minor league system. And the Cincinnati Reds organization continues to overflow with minor league talent and depth.

As we get ready for Week 3, most teams will have reached a point where they are using fifth starters. The schedule still has a few extra off days, so clubs may or may not be on a strict every-fifth-day rotation. Assuming they are, here are five interesting pitchers slated for two starts in leagues whose week starts on Monday.

Justin Masterson – With Daisuke Matsuzaka on the disabled list, Masterson makes his first start of the season on Monday. He is at home versus the Orioles on Monday and if he stays in the rotation will be at home to face the Yankees at the end of the week.

Jordan Zimmermann – The Nationals are slated to promote top prospect Zimmermann from the minors to make his first start of the season at home versus the Braves. His second start will be at New York versus the Mets.

Andrew Miller – The sixth pick of the 2006 draft gets a start Monday at Pittsburgh and later in the week the lefty Miller has a home start versus the lefty-heavy Phillies.

Scott Richmond – After a strong outing (6.1 IP, 1 ER) in his last start versus the Twins, Richmond has a home start versus the Rangers on Tuesday and at Chicago on Sunday.

Armando Galarraga – Last year’s surprise pitcher sees if he can keep his hot 2009 start going with games Tuesday at the Angels and Sunday at Kansas City.

Other potential two-start pitchers in Week 3 are:

Simon, Eveland, Pettitte, Lowe, Correia, Moyer, Hampton, Marquis, Garland, Contreras, Hendrickson, Baker, Wakefield, Ramirez, Laffey, Anderson, Sabathia, Kawakami, Martis, Parra, Blanton, Sanchez, Karstens, McCarthy, Owings, Harden, Kershaw, Ortiz, Perez, Pineiro, Morales, Petit, Weaver, Sonnanstine, Washburn, Peavy and Cain.

Games: Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Following the race to the American League and
National League Rookie of the Year awards.

Cameron Maybin | CF | Florida
Versus Atlanta and Derek Lowe (RHP)

At-Bat 1:

Result: Walk

Pitcher: Derek Lowe (RHP)

Situation: Leading off the second inning | 3-2 count

Pitch: Fastball | Low and away (Ball) | 88 mph

At-Bat 2:

Result: Strikeout

Pitcher: Derek Lowe (RHP)

Situation: Fourth inning, one on and one out | 2-2 count

Pitch: Fastball | Middle and low (Strike) | 87 mph

At-Bat 3:

Result: Walk to load the bases

Pitcher: Derek Lowe (RHP)

Situation: Fifth inning, two on, two out, three runs in | 3-2 count

Pitch: Change-up | Low and away (Ball) | 81 mph

At-Bat 4:

Result: Strikeout (swinging)

Pitcher: Peter Moylan (RHP)

Situation: Seventh inning, bases loaded, one out | 1-2 count

Pitch: Slider | Low and away (Ball) | 77 mph

At-Bat 5:

Result: Strikeout (foul top

Pitcher: Blaine Boyer (RHP)

Situation: Ninth inning, none out, two on, one run in | 1-2 count

Pitch: Slider | Middle and away (Strike) | 87 mph

Notes: Maybin is in a bit of a swoon with his average at .214 right now. The book on him was clear in this game: work him away, which goes to show that teams feel he is a strict pull hitter right now. That will have to change if Maybin is going to have some success. He barely laid his bat on the ball in this game with three strikeouts and two walks. The center fielder has just one extra base hit this season and his two walks in this contest were his first base-on-balls for the season, to go along with 12 strikeouts in 28 at-bats (42.9 K%).

National League:

Travis Ishikawa | 1B | San Francisco
Opponent: LHP Clayton Kershaw (Los Angeles)
Result: Defensive replacement for Rich Aurilia at 1B
Trending: More strikeouts (six) than hits (five) and no walks.
Notes: Ishikawa, a LH hitter, sat against a tough lefty. He has yet to have an at-bat against a left this season.

Chris Dickerson | OF | Cincinnati
Opponent: RHP Braden Looper (Milwaukee)
Result: 1-for-4 with a two-run homer, 2 LOB
Trending: He has a hit in each of his last four games played.
Notes: The left-handed hitter is 0-for-3 against southpaws but is hitting righties to the tune of .364/.529/.727 in 11 at-bats with five walks.

Dexter Fowler | OF | Colorado
Opponent: RHP Angel Guzman (Chicago)
Result: Pinch-hit double, with an RBI
Trending: Out of his four starts, he has two multi-hit games
Notes: Despite a .333 average, the switch-hitter is still not playing everyday

Jordan Schafer | CF | Atlanta
Opponent: LHP Andrew Miller (Florida)
Result: 0-for-4, two Ks, three LOB
Trending: .286 vs LHP, .313 vs RHP
Notes: Schafer has seven strikeouts in his last 11 at-bats (three games).

Colby Rasmus | CF | St. Louis
Opponent: RHP Jon Garland (Arizona)
Result: 1-for-5, two runs, double, RBI, BB
Trending: six walks vs three strikeouts
Notes: Rasmus has scored seven runs in eight games.

American League:
Chris Getz | 2B | Chicago
Opponent: RHP Armando Galarraga (Detroit)
Result: Did not play
Trending: Getz, a LH hitter, has just three at-bats against southpaws this season.
Notes: Getz has lost some playing time at second base to Brett Lillibridge, although the former Braves prospect is just 1-for-13 (.077) on the season.

Elvis Andrus | SS | Texas
Opponent: LHP Mark Hendrickson (Baltimore)
Result: 2-for-3, four runs scored, RBI, two BB, K
Trending: He’s made two errors in six games, but Andrus is showing above-average range at SS (4.33 RF/g)
Notes: A solid start to the season: .292/.346/.542 with three extra base hits and one SB

Travis Snider | LF | Toronto
Opponent: RHP Scott Baker (Minnesota)
Result: 1-for-3, double, run, two RBI, two BB, two K
Trending: .333/.429/.944 versus RHP
Notes: An .864 slugging percentage in his first seven games is pretty impressive; six of his seven base hits have been for extra bases, including three homers.

Brett Gardner | CF | New York
Opponent: RHP Andy Sonnanstine (Tampa Bay)
Result: 0-for-4
Trending: Four strikeouts in his last nine at-bats.
Notes: Six strikeouts and just one walk for a small-ball player is not encouraging.

Earlier this month, we discussed Athletics southpaw Brett Anderson and his surprising polish for such a youthful starter. It’s only fitting that we now turn our attention to right-hander Trevor Cahill, as Oakland’s lefty-righty prospect duo has been inextricably linked since Anderson’s arrival in the system last year. Cahill is peanut butter to Anderson’s jelly; they just go together.

While Anderson was brought in as part of the freighter of talent acquired from Arizona in the Dan Haren deal, Cahill was a second-round draft pick out of Vista, California in the 2006 amateur draft. The A’s paid Cahill $560K to eschew a scholarship to Dartmouth, valuing an emerging arm that Baseball America claimed had “surprising feel and command for such an inexperienced pitcher.”

You would have thought that Cahill polished his game and got that Ivy League diploma, judging from the way he pummeled opposing batters in his full-season debut in 2007. In 105.1 innings with Kane County, Cahill struck out exactly 10 batters per nine innings, while inducing a boatload of grounders (56.4 GB%) with an arsenal including a low-90’s sinker, a knuckle-curve, a slider and a changeup. His control was just moderate (3.42 BB/9), but the combination of whiffs and worm-burners was exciting, to say the least.

The 6-3, 195 pounder began the 2008 season in what can often be pitching purgatory: the High-A California League. Undeterred, Cahill bested his ’07 FIP (2.74) by posing a 2.63 mark with Stockton in 87.1 IP. You name it, and Cahill improved upon it: his K rate climbed to 10.61, he slightly shaved down the walks (3.19 BB/9), and he was downright Webb-esque in keeping the ball in the dirt (61.4 GB%).

Passing that test with flying colors, Cahill was bumped up to AA Midland, where he tossed 37 frames. He hit the first rocky path of his career with the RockHounds, though you wouldn’t know it from a cursory look at his ERA (2.19). Not that he was bad by any stretch, but Cahill walked 4.62 batters per nine, with 8 K/9 and a 3.90 FIP. The grounders kept coming, however, at a 61.8% clip.

Cahill has always been considered an integral part of future A’s contenders, but his time in the big leagues came a year before most anticipated that he would grace the Coliseum. Cahill’s major league debut versus the Angels on April 7th was turbulent (5 IP, 5 walks, 1 K), but he turned in a quality outing on the 12th versus the Mariners (7 IP, 1 R, 2 hits).

Cahill might not be as major league-ready as his southpaw partner in crime (his control can desert him at times). But, the 21 year-old looks an awful lot like a Brandon Webb starter kit: a good number of swings and misses, coupled with a ground-based attack that makes it difficult for opponents to loft the ball out of the infield. That represents the best-case scenario, of course, but Cahill could entangle hitters for years to come as the A’s synthesize yet another formidable rotation.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Activated RHP Max Scherzer from the 15-day disabled list. Optioned RHP Billy Buckner to Triple-A Reno.

Scherzer (who had been sidelined with a tight shoulder) becomes a must-start if he shows that he’s physically sound. His mid-90’s gas and sharp mid-80’s breaker give him the artillery necessary to beat down major league hitters, though his bumpy control and stamina will have to be improved. CHONE and ZiPS both call for a FIP of about 3.60- Scherzer is extremely talented, but it’s difficult to project just how many starts he’ll make in 2009.

Boston Red Sox

Placed SS Jed Lowrie on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to April 12, with a left wrist sprain. Recalled INF Gil Velazquez from Triple-A Pawtucket.

Placed RHP Daisuke Matsuzaka on the 15-day disabled list with a mild right shoulder strain. Recalled LHP Hunter Jones from Triple-A Pawtucket.

Lowrie was bothered by a wrist injury last season as well, and unfortunately for him, Julio Lugo (rehabbing from a knee problem) will beat him back to the field. The switch-hitting Lowrie (25 tomorrow-talk about a crappy birthday present), is certainly a larger part of Boston’s future going forward. The projection systems presented here at Fan Graphs peg Lowrie as the better batsmen, though not a huge margin:

Lowrie’s projected wOBA’s:

CHONE: .335
ZiPS: .328
Oliver: .329

Lugo’s projected wOBA’s:

CHONE: .319
ZiPS: .326
Oliver: .309

Matsuzaka, meanwhile, is suffering from the always-nebulous designation of “arm fatigue.” Through two ineffective starts, Dice-K’s velocity is down about two and a half MPH from 2008 (91.8 MPH in ’08, 89.2 MPH in ’09).

Chicago White Sox

Placed OF Dewayne Wise on the 15-day disabled list with a Grade 3 separated right shoulder. Purchased the contract of OF Jerry Owens from Triple-A Charlotte. Signed free agent OF Scott Podsednik, who had been with the Rockies, to a Minor League contract.

“Dewayne Wise, everyday center fielder” was about as good of an idea as Disco Demolition Night: ill-conceived, lots of destruction, very little productivity. Wise (he of a career .253 OBP) hits the shelf following a shoulder injury suffered diving for a ball. Neither Brian Anderson (career .653 OPS) nor the recalled Owens (.632) should be sniffing anywhere near your fantasy squad. As for the ubiquitous Podsednik? His slappy skill-set at the plate wouldn’t appear to make him any more qualified for the role.

St. Louis Cardinals

Placed RHP Chris Carpenter on the 15-day disabled list. Optioned RHP Brad Thompson to Triple-A Memphis. Recalled RHP Mitchell Boggs and RHP Chris Perez from Triple-A Memphis.

Well, so much for that. Carp finds himself on the DL again, this time with a strained oblique suffered on a swing in the 4th inning of his second start.

As for Perez, he could well re-enter the closer derby developing in St. Louis. Ryan Franklin is ostensibly “the man” for the moment (the way this is going, that could change by the time you read this), but he and his near-five career FIP seem ill-suited to serve in critical late-game situations.

Let’s take a look at the early season performances of the bullpen rock stars, the closers. For the purposes of this “Closer Report” (which will be a weekly feature), we’ll place the relief aces in one of three categories: Death Grip (these guys have no chance of relinquishing the closer’s role; think Mo Rivera), In Control (a good chance of continuing to rack up the saves) and Watch Your Back (the set-up man is planning a coup d’etat as we speak).

Death Grip

Brad Lidge, Phillies: “Lights Out” remains perfect in save situations, though he’s surrendered 3 runs and two bombs in five innings. Lidge was due for some regression in the tater department: his HR/FB% was just 3.9 in 2008. Odds are, he’ll post a FIP in the low-three’s as a few more homers leave the park and will be labeled a “disappointment” despite little change in his actual skill level.

Francisco Rodriguez, Mets:

Jerry Manuel, forward thinker:

“We have, as an industry, somewhat boxed ourselves into making people believe that, ‘If it’s not that [save] situation, I don’t do well,'” Manuel said. “But the game is still on the line. That’s the bottom line. And that’s what we — especially as the team we are in New York — we have to understand that. It’s about the win, and not the statistic.” (Mets.com, via Rotoworld)

Jonathan Broxton, Dodgers: Big John is 3-for-3 to start the season, with 5 punchouts and no walks in 4 frames. His upper-90’s cheddar and nasty slider give him the equipment to dominate.

Matt Capps, Pirates: Capps (apparently healthy after a shoulder injury in 2008) is an odd duck as a late-inning reliever: he throws hard and relies heavily on his heat, but he gets the job done more with location (career 1.36 BB/9) than sheer force (6.7 K/9). Capps has converted both save opportunities thus far.

Heath Bell, Padres: The Padres do as good a job as anyone in procuring cheap, effective bullpen help, and they continue to go that route. Take a look at the current relief corps: literally everyone outside of Bell, Cla Meredith (both also acquired in lower-level trades) and Edwin Moreno was not in the organization as of a couple months ago. So far, so good for Heath: he’s racked up four saves in four chances.

In Control

Mike Gonzalez, Braves: Gonzo’s beginning his first full year back from Tommy John surgery, and is 1-for-2 in save ops thus far.

Matt Lindstrom, Marlins: He’s working his way back from a strained right rotator cuff, and is also one for two in picking up the save. Lindstrom doesn’t miss as many bats as you’d think he would, given the upper-90’s velocity (career 7.62 K/9).

Kevin Gregg, Cubs: Gregg clearly plays second-fiddle to Carlos Marmol in talent level, but the erstwhile Marlin will rack up the glory stat for one of the National League’s strongest clubs. He’s off to a turbulent start (6/5 K/BB in 4 IP).

Francisco Cordero, Reds: After a macabre spring, Cincy’s good-but-overcompensated stopper has pitched three scoreless frames, with 4 K’s and no walks.

Jose Valverde, Astros: Valverde has yet to get a save op, as the Houston Astros trot out a “you mean he’s still around?”-quality back of the rotation.

Chad Qualls, Diamondbacks: With little fanfare, Qualls posted a 3.02 Expected Fielding Independent ERA (based on a pitcher’s K’s, walks and a normalized HR/FB rate to root out good or bad luck on flyballs) in 2008. That bested Valverde (3.49), the man for whom he was traded prior to the ’08 season, by nearly half a run.

Brian Wilson, Giants: Wilson is a high-octane hurler, punching out 9.67 batters per nine innings in 2008 while also generating grounders at a 51.7% clip. Can his control take a step forward? Stay tuned.

Watch Your Back

Joel Hanrahan, Nationals: Joel hasn’t had a save chance yet, what with the Nats laying the groundwork for a quick fall into irrelevance in 2009. He’s whiffed over 9 batters per nine innings in his career, but Hanrahan’s helter-skelter control (5.31 BB/9) will have Manny Acta and fantasy owners reaching for the Tums on a regular basis.

Carlos Villanueva, Brewers: Villanueva is simply keeping the seat warm for Trevor Hoffman (oblique injury). “Hell’s Bells” will soon blare at Miller Park, but the extreme flyball act might not work as well outside of Petco.

Jason Motte/Ryan Franklin/Kyle McClellan/Denys Reyes, Cardinals: Motte got off on the wrong foot opening day, surrendering the lead to the Pirates and apparently losing the confidence of Tony La Russa. Motte still looks like the best man for the job, but it’s anyone’s guess as to who enters the next time the Cards have a lead in the late innings.

Huston Street, Rockies: Street has given up 6 hits and 3 runs in 2.2 innings so far. Manny Corpas (and possibly Taylor Buchholz when he returns from an elbow injury) could continue to remain in the picture.

Let’s take a look at the early season performances of the bullpen rock stars, the closers. For the purposes of this “Closer Report” (which will be a weekly feature), we’ll place the relief aces in one of three categories: Death Grip (these guys have no chance of relinquishing the closer’s role; think Mo Rivera), In Control (a good chance of continuing to rack up the saves) and Watch Your Back (the set-up man is planning a coup d’etat as we speak).

Death Grip

Mariano Rivera, Yankees: Mo shall throw a cutter, and you shall not hit it. Rivera has only gotten one save and two frames of work thus far, but the 40 year-old wonder remains damn-near untouchable.

Jonathan Papelbon, Red Sox: The Angels smacked Papelbon on April 11th (Torii Hunter took him deep), but there’s nothing to worry about here.

Kerry Wood, Indians: Woody hasn’t had much action with the Tribe off to a false start, but he’s coming off a season in which he posted a 4.67 K/BB ratio and a 2.32 FIP.

Joakim Soria, Royals: The Mexicutioner won’t post a 1.60 ERA again (his BABIP was a Tony Pena Jr.-esque .215 in ’08), but his filthy four-pitch mix makes him one of the best (and perhaps most overqualified) relievers in the game.

Bobby Jenks, White Sox: Jenks has certainly become a different sort of hurler over the past few seasons; whether that’s for the best remains to be seen. The Royals got to him on April 9th, but he converted another opportunity versus the club on the 7th and blanked the Twins on the 12th.

Joe Nathan, Twins: How many people realize that Nathan hasn’t posted a K/BB of less than four since 2004, and that his 2.79 FIP in 2008 was his highest mark since his last year in a Giants uniform (2003)?

In Control

George Sherrill, Orioles: Sherrill is 3-for-3 in save situations to start the year, through he’ll have to contend with rehabilitated flame-thrower Chris Ray throughout the season.

Brad Ziegler, Athletics: The generic starter-turned submariner is 2-for-3 in save situations for the year, but he won’t have to worry about Joey Devine (elbow, 60-day DL) any time soon.

Brandon Morrow: Morrow’s move to the bullpen has certainly spurred some lively debate. He’s off to a bit of a rough start (4/5 K/BB in 2.2 IP) and David Aardsma has snatched up a couple saves, but the job is supposed to be there for the former Cal star. In other disappointing news, top prospect Philip Aumont was also moved to the ‘pen. At this rate, the 2010 rotation will consist of Felix Hernandez and “staff.”

Brian Fuentes, Angels: Fuentes is 2-for-3 in save ops thus far, with 6 hits and 4 runs allowed. The former Rockie was quite good last season, but the 2.73 ERA is pushing it: his HR/FB rate was just 4.5% (the average is around 10-11%). Fuentes’ velocity has been down, for whatever that’s worth in 3 innings of work (89.8 MPH on the fastball in ’09, 91.6 MPH in ’08).

Frank Francisco, Rangers: Francisco whiffed 11.79 per nine in ’08 with a 3.18 FIP, but his control does come and go, not the best tendency for a high-leverage reliever. He’s the best that Texas has to offer, but his leash might not be as long as it should be with Eddie Guardado and C.J. Wilson lurking around.

Watch Your Back

Troy Percival, Rays: Between Percy’s chronic back and hamstring issues as well as Joe Maddon’s flexibility in using his best relievers in the most crucial situations (that could be a save situation, or not), the burly veteran isn’t guaranteed much.

B.J. Ryan, Blue Jays: Ryan has looked downright awkward to begin the ’09 season: he used to sit 90-91 with his heater and snap off wicked mid-80’s sliders, but the herky-jerky lefty is averaging just 88 MPH through three appearances. The role is his for now, but the Jays do possess a deep ‘pen.

Fernando Rodney, Tigers: Rodney will get the call in the 9th for now, having usurped Brandon Lyon. Still, he’s Fernando Rodney, he of a career 4.51 BB/9. He looks like he should dominate with that gas/changeup combo, but he just doesn’t. ’08 first-rounder Ryan Perry looms in the background.

It’s a long season so it’s obviously too early to get worried in New York, but it’s not easy being a Yankee and expectations are much higher than in some organizations around Major League Baseball. As a result, you know that unestablished players like third baseman Cody Ransom (.083/.153/.125) and center-fielder Brett Gardner (.227/.261/.273) could spend a significant amount of time on the hot seat whenever the club struggles – like it is now.

The fourth-place Yankees have a number of interesting names currently playing just one stop away from the Major Leagues in Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Ransom will eventually be replaced by the rehabbing third-base incumbent Alex Rodriguez. However, if the club gets tired of the sub-.200 average that Ransom is providing in the meantime, Eric Duncan could receive a look. The former No. 1 draft pick is currently hitting .286/.412/.286 in 14 at-bats in Triple-A, although he’s no longer considered a ‘first-round talent.’ Angel Berroa, who received some consideration for the roster spot that Ransom currently owns, is hitting .318 in 22 at-bats.

Gardner is currently struggling a bit in the Big Apple, but top prospect Austin Jackson – who just happens to play center field – is smoking hot in Triple-A. The 22-year-old phenom is currently hitting .500/.538/.591 with six RBI in five games. If we’re nitpicking for negatives, he has just one extra base hit (a triple).

First baseman Mark Teixeira has been limited to just 16 at-bats, thanks to a bad wrist. However, Nick Swisher has stepped up and is currently hitting .450/.542/1.150 in 20 at-bats. He’s doing it all, too. Swisher is evening taking to the mound and out-performing Chien-Ming Wang! If the Yankees need more pop at first base, especially if the Teixeira injury lingers, the club can dip down to Triple-A where Juan Miranda is hitting a tidy .417/.462/.750 with 11 RBI in five games.

On the pitching side, starter Ian Kennedy struck out 11 batters and walked no one in his only start. Reliever David Robertson has appeared in two games and has yet to allow a run in five innings. He’s allowed two hits, one walk and has struck out 10. Mark Melancon has struck out seven batters in 3.2 innings and has yet to allow a hit or a walk.