Dunn Dirt Cheap
Friday, May 27, 2011
When the White Sox signed designated hitter
Adam Dunn to a four-year, $56 million contract this past winter, it caught the attention of many fantasy baseball enthusiasts. He slugged 38 home runs in 2009 for the Nationals and another 38 in 2010. Between 2004 and 2008, he averaged 41 homers per season. Dunn would flourish inside the cozy dimensions of U.S. Cellular Field, we thought, possibly reaching the 50-homer plateau for the first time in his career and tallying a gaudy RBI total along the way while batting in a quality lineup.
Unfortunately, it hasn't been that easy. Dunn went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts on Thursday afternoon against the Blue Jays and is batting just .186 with a .660 OPS through 184 plate appearances as a first-year member of the Pale Hose. His career OPS is a proud .895.
Dunn also has just five home runs and has struck out a whopping 65 times.
We're still optimistic that the slugger will settle in and turn his 2011 campaign around, but 50 homers seems to be out of the question and there's little doubt that he was selected too early in some fantasy drafts.
This is Friday's edition of the Daily Dose...
* Blue Jays manager John Farrell broke the hearts of desperate fantasy owners on Thursday when he announced that Toronto is going to begin using a closer-by-committee approach at the back end of their bullpen.
Frank Francisco,
Jon Rauch and
Octavio Dotel will all be getting chances and will be thrown into games at random.
Jason Frasor will also get looks from time to time. It's a smart baseball strategy. As a manager, you want to deploy your most reliable relievers in the tightest situations, and that doesn't always mean the ninth inning. But it's a big pain for fantasy owners and the news took a significant bite out of Francisco's overall value.
National League Quick Hits: Reds phenom
Aroldis Chapman allowed three runs in a two-inning rehab appearance Thursday at Triple-A Louisville …
Buster Posey has been diagnosed with a broken left fibula and a couple of severely strained ankle ligaments …
Anibal Sanchez threw a shutout Thursday and now has a 2.60 ERA on the year … Phillies speedster
Shane Victorino is scheduled to play his first rehab game Saturday …
Hanley Ramirez is day-to-day with a foot contusion … The Phillies activated setup man
Jose Contreras from the 15-day disabled list … Reds starter
Homer Bailey has been sent back to Cincinnati to have his shoulder examined by a specialist …
R.A. Dickey will have his right foot and heel examined Friday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York … The Cubs acquired swing man
Rodrigo Lopez from the Braves for young left-hander
Ryan Buchter …
Juan Gutierrez underwent an MRI Thursday that showed inflammation and irritation in his right shoulder but no structural damage … The Rangers have inquired about Nationals reliever
Todd Coffey …
Carlos Zambrano is day-to-day with stiffness in his neck …
Jay Bruce slugged his fourth homer in five games Thursday against the Phillies …
Ryan Vogelsong took his first loss of the season Thursday against the Marlins … Braves starter
Derek Lowe had his DUI charges dropped Thursday in court due to a "lack of evidence" …
Mike Leake will be promoted from Triple-A Louisville to start Friday's series opener against the Braves …
Nick Hundley is aiming to begin a minor league rehab assignment next week … The Giants recalled
Brandon Belt from Triple-A Fresno.
American League Quick Hits: The Royals designated
Robinson Tejeda for assignment and acquired
Felipe Paulino via trade from the Rockies …
Carl Crawford is officially locked in offensively and has 12 hits and 10 runs scored in his last 28 at-bats …
Sergio Santos earned his eighth save of the season in Thursday's victory over Kansas City … A's closer
Andrew Bailey will make another rehab appearance Thursday at Triple-A Sacramento …
Grady Sizemore could be activated from the disabled list as soon as Friday afternoon … Mariners reliever
Shawn Kelley is headed for Alabama to be reexamined by Dr. James Andrews …
Brett Anderson threw eight shutout innings Thursday in the A's defeat of the Angels … The Twins have sent future trade bait
Kevin Slowey all the way to extended spring training …
Max Scherzer allowed seven runs in less than three innings Thursday in a loss to the Red Sox … A's third baseman
Kevin Kouzmanoff remains day-to-day with a groin injury …
Josh Reddick had three hits and three RBI in his season debut Thursday against the Tigers … The Angels placed
Howie Kendrick on the disabled list with a hamstring strain …
Dustin McGowan is scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment next week … Orioles outfielder
Nolan Reimold went 4-for-4 Thursday with two homers, four RBI and a walk …
Jesse Carlson is out for the season following surgery to fix his torn left rotator cuff … Twins reliever
Jose Mijares began a rehab assignment Thursday evening at Single-A Fort Myers … The Angels have signed
Russell Branyan to a minor league contract.
When the White Sox signed designated hitter
Adam Dunn to a four-year, $56 million contract this past winter, it caught the attention of many fantasy baseball enthusiasts. He slugged 38 home runs in 2009 for the Nationals and another 38 in 2010. Between 2004 and 2008, he averaged 41 homers per season. Dunn would flourish inside the cozy dimensions of U.S. Cellular Field, we thought, possibly reaching the 50-homer plateau for the first time in his career and tallying a gaudy RBI total along the way while batting in a quality lineup.
Unfortunately, it hasn't been that easy. Dunn went 0-for-4 with four strikeouts on Thursday afternoon against the Blue Jays and is batting just .186 with a .660 OPS through 184 plate appearances as a first-year member of the Pale Hose. His career OPS is a proud .895.
Dunn also has just five home runs and has struck out a whopping 65 times.
We're still optimistic that the slugger will settle in and turn his 2011 campaign around, but 50 homers seems to be out of the question and there's little doubt that he was selected too early in some fantasy drafts.
This is Friday's edition of the Daily Dose...
* Blue Jays manager John Farrell broke the hearts of desperate fantasy owners on Thursday when he announced that Toronto is going to begin using a closer-by-committee approach at the back end of their bullpen.
Frank Francisco,
Jon Rauch and
Octavio Dotel will all be getting chances and will be thrown into games at random.
Jason Frasor will also get looks from time to time. It's a smart baseball strategy. As a manager, you want to deploy your most reliable relievers in the tightest situations, and that doesn't always mean the ninth inning. But it's a big pain for fantasy owners and the news took a significant bite out of Francisco's overall value.
National League Quick Hits: Reds phenom
Aroldis Chapman allowed three runs in a two-inning rehab appearance Thursday at Triple-A Louisville …
Buster Posey has been diagnosed with a broken left fibula and a couple of severely strained ankle ligaments …
Anibal Sanchez threw a shutout Thursday and now has a 2.60 ERA on the year … Phillies speedster
Shane Victorino is scheduled to play his first rehab game Saturday …
Hanley Ramirez is day-to-day with a foot contusion … The Phillies activated setup man
Jose Contreras from the 15-day disabled list … Reds starter
Homer Bailey has been sent back to Cincinnati to have his shoulder examined by a specialist …
R.A. Dickey will have his right foot and heel examined Friday at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York … The Cubs acquired swing man
Rodrigo Lopez from the Braves for young left-hander
Ryan Buchter …
Juan Gutierrez underwent an MRI Thursday that showed inflammation and irritation in his right shoulder but no structural damage … The Rangers have inquired about Nationals reliever
Todd Coffey …
Carlos Zambrano is day-to-day with stiffness in his neck …
Jay Bruce slugged his fourth homer in five games Thursday against the Phillies …
Ryan Vogelsong took his first loss of the season Thursday against the Marlins … Braves starter
Derek Lowe had his DUI charges dropped Thursday in court due to a "lack of evidence" …
Mike Leake will be promoted from Triple-A Louisville to start Friday's series opener against the Braves …
Nick Hundley is aiming to begin a minor league rehab assignment next week … The Giants recalled
Brandon Belt from Triple-A Fresno.
American League Quick Hits: The Royals designated
Robinson Tejeda for assignment and acquired
Felipe Paulino via trade from the Rockies …
Carl Crawford is officially locked in offensively and has 12 hits and 10 runs scored in his last 28 at-bats …
Sergio Santos earned his eighth save of the season in Thursday's victory over Kansas City … A's closer
Andrew Bailey will make another rehab appearance Thursday at Triple-A Sacramento …
Grady Sizemore could be activated from the disabled list as soon as Friday afternoon … Mariners reliever
Shawn Kelley is headed for Alabama to be reexamined by Dr. James Andrews …
Brett Anderson threw eight shutout innings Thursday in the A's defeat of the Angels … The Twins have sent future trade bait
Kevin Slowey all the way to extended spring training …
Max Scherzer allowed seven runs in less than three innings Thursday in a loss to the Red Sox … A's third baseman
Kevin Kouzmanoff remains day-to-day with a groin injury …
Josh Reddick had three hits and three RBI in his season debut Thursday against the Tigers … The Angels placed
Howie Kendrick on the disabled list with a hamstring strain …
Dustin McGowan is scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment next week … Orioles outfielder
Nolan Reimold went 4-for-4 Thursday with two homers, four RBI and a walk …
Jesse Carlson is out for the season following surgery to fix his torn left rotator cuff … Twins reliever
Jose Mijares began a rehab assignment Thursday evening at Single-A Fort Myers … The Angels have signed
Russell Branyan to a minor league contract.