Monday Musings - 6.22.2009

Jeff beat Jered. Didn't see that one coming.

The Alex Rodriguez saga took a strange twist. He learned via conference call that he would not play Friday and Saturday. A conference call his manager was not a part of, strange. And now its been announced he will sit out at least a game a week. But why now? How in the world did Joe Girardi, Brian Cashman, and Rodriguez think it was a good idea to have him play EVERY game since coming back from hip surgery. Wouldn't logic dictate that he sit out one game a week then?

Another star pitcher was placed on the DL this weekend, as Red Sox starter Daisuke Matsuzaka hit the DL. He joins an all-star rotation of Jake Peavy, Roy Halladay, Edinson Volquez, and to a lesser extent, Erik Bedard, John Maine, and the rest of the Blue Jays and Angels projected 2009 starting rotations.

Locally, both the Mets and the Yankees lost two of three to teams from Florida. The Bombers dropped two to the Marlins, with CC Sabathia leaving the game early with bicep tightness on Sunday. Maybe he'll join the above list of A-listers on the DL. The Mets got a full taste of BJ Upton on Sunday. He went 4 for 6 with four RBI and three runs scored, including a two run homerun.

Our fantasy tips for Monday

This isn't earth shattering, but now is the time for Mr. Upton. He is fully healthy and obviously really starting to see the ball well. He has gotten more and more comfortable at the dish and the line up around him is finally healthy. Evan Longoria being back to his big swinging ways will help Upton fight off his bad hitting nights with a couple of runs scored if he can find his way on base in some fashion. His ability to swipe bases makes him such a dynamic star. Make sure he is starting in all leagues. Again, nothing you don't know already, just making sure you set your line up in time if you had him benched. If he has another big week, and you can spare the OF, make a push to deal him for some top tier pitchers. You might be able to rob a leaguemate blind.

Keep an eye on Brandon Morrow. He has been highly touted for a while, but has continued to struggle in a Joba Chamberlain sort of way. He was a starter, then a closer, then a starter, then a closer, and well... now... back to starting. He has a great fastball and two good off speed pitches. I got to watch Morrow while calling games for the 2004 Cape Cod Champ Y-D Red Sox. He had electric stuff back then and might finally be coming into his own on the major league level. If he can stretch himself out over the next few weeks, look for him to be a big pay off in July and August. He may not be worth a start now, but trying to get him off someone's bench for a back-up OF may be a smart play now.