Roto Riteup: May 6, 2013

A glimpse inside the author’s mind while penning the Roto Riteup: “it’s hot and I hate everything.”

On today’s agenda:
1. Goodnight, sweet prince: The Roy Halladay story
2. The Nats outfield is healing
3. Erik Bedard shifts to bullpen
4. Michael Bourn is rehabbing

Goodnight, sweet prince: The Roy Halladay story
After rewarding owners with three straight quality starts, Halladay has absolutely imploded this week. Doc was ripped to shreds by the Indians on Tuesday to the tune of three homers and eight earned runs in less than four innings on the hill. Yesterday, Doc was slaughtered by the feeble and Giancarlo-less Marlins, allowing nine earned in less than three innings of work.

It should be noted that Halladay is claiming that shoulder discomfort of some kind has been bothering him this week, so there is some non-zero possibility that his recent struggles are explainable. While the chance is non-zero, the odds rest comfortably below 50%, which is all you should really care about.

Doc’s ERA for the year now sits just south of 9.00, and in his age-36 season, we may be seeing the last of Roy Halladay. If he does hit the DL as expected, I’d refrain from releasing him, but at this point he’s not worth an active roster spot.

The Nats outfield is healing
Jayson Werth hasn’t been able to take the field for the Washington Nationals since last Thursday due to a hamstring ailment, but the outfielder expects to rejoin the starting lineup tomorrow. Werth has had a minor resurgence early in 2013, flashing the power that was missing from his game for the entirety of 2012. Werth’s average isn’t great, but it still feels like Werth could be a .270/15/15 guy this year, and that’s a player I want on my team.

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Denard Span was back in the Nationals lineup yesterday after missing a game due to a unfortunately angled foul ball. While he didn’t miss long, it’s also good to see a speedy recovery from a potentially devastating injury.

Erik Bedard shifts to bullpen
When you can’t crack the rotation of the lowly Houston Astros, there’s a good sign your life isn’t going as hoped. After struggling with walks and bombs, Bedard is being sent to the Astros’ bullpen. Bedard’s two relief appearances this year are the first time he’s come out of the bullpen since 2004, and even though he won’t be kicking off games, he should still be able to work plenty of innings for a team with other rotation question marks.

Michael Bourn is rehabbing
Bourn is set to start his rehab assignment tonight, and the speedster should be back with the Indians in a couple of days time.





Zach is the creator and co-author of RotoGraphs' Roto Riteup series, and RotoGraphs' second-longest tenured writer. You can follow him on twitter.

15 Comments
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Guy in a cubicle on a monday morning
13 years ago

I think struggling to stay in an MLB bullpen, even the Astros’, would be better than being stuck in this cubicle.

Jon L.
13 years ago

I don’t even have a cubicle.

FS54
13 years ago

Asdrubal and Zobrist for Cueto and Bruce?

Angelo
13 years ago
Reply to  FS54

You need to give some type of context if you want a response. Who’s in free agency? Deep league? Mixed league? Rotisserie? Points? Head to head?

Simply naming players in a trade doesn’t really tell us much.

FS54
13 years ago
Reply to  Angelo

standard 5×5 10-team mixed league. starting SS and 2b for me are segura and rutledge resp. I am lacking in avg, rbi, and sb.

Clifford
13 years ago

sounds like someone’s got some pent up hatred towards Halladay…little over-the-top aggressive when talking about baseball, don’t you think?…”…ripped to shreds by the Indians…slaughtered by the feeble and Giancarlo-less Marlins..”

Tommy
13 years ago
Reply to  Clifford

Maybe, but RotoWorld said to drop him outright. At least these guys are telling you to DL him and hope for good news.

James R.
13 years ago

Would you prefer ” Hammered by the Tribe!” and ” Pummeled by the Fish” ?

KJ
13 years ago
Reply to  James R.

Put on the hook by the Fish.

arrjcee
13 years ago

Hey guys, looking for trade advice. I’ve been offered Chase Headley straight up for Trevor Cahill. It’s a 16-team mixed league, offensive categories are R, HR, Net SB, OBP, SLG and pitching categories are QS, ERA, WHIP, SV, K/9. Currently my only 3B option is Pedro Alvarez. My SP hasn’t been great so far, but that’s mainly due to underwhelming performances by Price and Gallardo, who seem bound to turn things around given their track records.

Cahill strikes me as a good sell-high candidate. He’s been a bit lucky, with a BABIP around .260 and a lower than normal HR/FB%. Additionally, while his K/9 is up a bit, his SwStr% is down and his contact rates are up. What do you think?

Johnny Come Lately
13 years ago
Reply to  arrjcee

I’d hurry and take that deal before he changes his mind. But I’ve never been a Cahill fan. He’s in the Morrow category for me. One of those “maybe this is the year he puts it all together” type players that have talent but never perform up to it.

Nick
13 years ago

I was offered B.J. Upton & Youk for my Nick Markakis and Moustakas. I already have will middlebrooks at 3rd. This is a no-brainer, right?

Nick
13 years ago
Reply to  Nick

Starting to think it isn’t actually.. zips hates markakis & loves b.j., but steamer is the other way around.

majnun
13 years ago
Reply to  Nick

I’d still take upton

What's up Doc?
13 years ago

Who’s more worthy of a lone DL spot – Doc or Madson?