Buy Low/Sell High 5/26/08

First off thank you to all the veterans out there and their families for all that they have done for our country and our citizens. Good luck to all.

Buy Low: Mark Ellis

Key Stats:

G	AB	R		H	2B	3B		HR	RBI	SB		CS	BB	SO		BA	OBP
42	163	22		39	8	2		4	16	5		2	20	20		0.239	0.324
BABIP			BB/SO				P/PA				GB/FB				HR/FB
0.252			1.00				3.99				0.939				8.16%

Mark is having another year that sometimes causes you to scratch your head. Just when it looks like he was starting to really put things together last year, he has so far under-performed a little bit. His BABIP is a big reason for that but also his declining GB/FB ratio. To me it is amazing that for someone who hits this many FB he only has 4 HR. Even though his HR/FB% is consistent with his career average, his GB/FB ratio has dropped severely. More FB should mean at least 1-2 more HR than what he has. A big reason why his overall numbers are down is because he was dealing with a hamstring issue. It appears that he is healthy and ready to contribute so he should be in someone’s lineup soon.

Ellis, Mark 2B OAK for Lopez, Felipe SS WAS and Torres, Salomon RP MIL

Ellis, Mark 2B OAK for Villanueva, Carlos SP MIL

Ellis, Mark 2B OAK for Denorfia, Chris LF OAK

Sell High: Joe Mauer

Key Stats: 

G	AB	R		H	2B	3B		HR	RBI	SB		CS	BB	SO		BA	OBP
45	160	29		54	10	1		0	20	0		1	23	13		0.338	0.416
BABIP			BB/SO				P/PA				GB/FB				HR/FB
0.367			1.77				3.94				2.000				0.00%

For the last several years Joe has been living on reputation. This year is no exception. First off, he still does not have a single home run. They (scouts and fantasy players alike) expected that he would continue to grow into his body and begin to have 20HR power. We are now about 1/3 of the way through the season and he still does not have a single home run. Not good enough for me as your #1 catcher. Also he has been extremely lucky this year with his balls in play falling in for hits (it’s at .367!!!!!!!!!!!!) His GB/FB ratio is in line with his career averages but his BB/SO ratio has climbed dramatically. Trade him while you can before people realize his HR power is non-existent this year.

This is what you could get for him according to CBS fantasy baseball recent trades.

Mauer, Joe C MIN for Longoria, Evan 3B TB and Rodriguez, Ivan C DET

Mauer, Joe C MIN for Oswalt, Roy SP HOU

Mauer, Joe C MIN for Beltran, Carlos CF NYM