Despite my earlier disillusionment with Barry Zito he was clearly the talisman that was keeping me in 10th place last week. I’m now 14th and last! But I’m still not having Zito back although he is still available. Didn’t get a start out of Wellemayer, picked him up for what I thought was his start on Sunday, which was the first day I could get him in the lineup, but he went on Saturday, thanks Yahoo. Didn’t miss out on too much, think it was a no decision with OKish WHIP & ERA, much the same as Kyle Loshe, who I did pick up for a start. Gone for yet another St Louis starter for a spot start this weekend, Braden Looper, picking on the Giants again, for his start tomorrow. Also grabbed Yankee’s reliever Brian Bruney to add to Heath Bell and Jonathon Broxton, which is about as strong a middle relief corps as there is in the league but no one is getting me any vulture wins or saves. Gagne came up with a couple of saves and he has given me all four saves I have but still leaves me dead last in the category. Batting average is the other category that stinks with only Utley giving draft round value at .313 and Giambi and Thomas both sub .200 and little by way of power. Just as I was last week I’m so looking forward to the return of Curtis Granderson, he’s out on a rehab assignment, first at Low A yesterday or today and then a AAA game over the weekend and expected, assuming all goes well, to be back in a Tigers line-up, that is showing signs of life, sometime next week.
The strategy for the coming week will be to see how Granderson gets on before going to town on the batting average issue, more pitch and ditch, using Kennedy’s spot as well as the spot vacated by Zito and keep fingers crossed for some useful counting numbers dropping into my lap from the relievers.