The Starting Line: Dan Haren - 5/1/09
The Starting Line
by Evan "the Censor" Dickens
evan@fantasybaseballsearch.com
Dan Haren @ MIL, 5/2/2009
W, 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 11 K
After talking yesterday about Jake Peavy's hard-luck struggles with getting his team to support him, we now turn to the incredible April 2009 of Dan Haren. The season began with a 7 IP, 1 ER performance at Colorado--and a L. Then another solid 6 IP, 2 ER at Los Angeles--another L. Then to San Francisco for another 6 IP, 1 ER--and a third L. Imagine pitching well enough to have a 1.89 ERA, and an 0-3 record to go with it. Such is the nature of pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks, who have the 30th-ranked offense in MLB and have been an embarassment almost top-to-bottom at the plate all season.
The last two starts have been continuing Haren's dominance, and this time with a modicum of run support to with them. First 9 K in 7 IP against Colorado, then 10 K in a CG against the Cubs--and Saturday, for the third straight game, Haren set a new season-high in strikeouts, carving up the Brewers like lunchmeat, throwing 68% of pitches for strikes and still posting an amazing 3.6 pitchers per batter faced--really a feat considering his strikeout rate.
Haren now has a 1.54 ERA, a 0.74 WHIP, and an unfathomable 7.20 K/BB rate which would set all kinds of records if he maintained it. Even with everything Johan Santana is doing Haren is still probably the Cy Young choice at this early point in the season. But you need to remember--this is what Haren does; he is the ultimate early-season pitcher. In 2007, he went through a stretch where he raised his ERA in 13 straight games. That stretch is going to come in 2009, and while he will likely end up as one of the top 5-7 SPs in baseball, if you can actually flip him for a top 10 offensive player at some point, don't be afraid to pull the trigger. Those who have sold high on Haren the last two years have been grateful they did so in September.
Other notes from Saturday: It's now time for Jarrod Washburn to be owned in all standard leagues, so go check your wire and say hooray for contract years. Joel Pineiro should probably be picked up also in any league with any real depth...meanwhile, Oliver Perez can be safely cut in 100% of leagues since he's headed back to the minors, and David Price owners can begin the Jeff Neimann watch again after he ran up his season ERA to 5.68...the Cubs-Marlins game showed Ted Lilly in spectacular form, running up 10 K and no walks in 8 IP; while across the way, Anibal Sanchez looked unhealthy with yet another first-inning blowup and complaints of the ball grip. The Marlins really need this kid to complete their rotation, especially until Nolasco gets his stuff together.
~Evan the Censor
by Evan "the Censor" Dickens
evan@fantasybaseballsearch.com
Dan Haren @ MIL, 5/2/2009
W, 8.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 H, 2 BB, 11 K
After talking yesterday about Jake Peavy's hard-luck struggles with getting his team to support him, we now turn to the incredible April 2009 of Dan Haren. The season began with a 7 IP, 1 ER performance at Colorado--and a L. Then another solid 6 IP, 2 ER at Los Angeles--another L. Then to San Francisco for another 6 IP, 1 ER--and a third L. Imagine pitching well enough to have a 1.89 ERA, and an 0-3 record to go with it. Such is the nature of pitching for the Arizona Diamondbacks, who have the 30th-ranked offense in MLB and have been an embarassment almost top-to-bottom at the plate all season.
The last two starts have been continuing Haren's dominance, and this time with a modicum of run support to with them. First 9 K in 7 IP against Colorado, then 10 K in a CG against the Cubs--and Saturday, for the third straight game, Haren set a new season-high in strikeouts, carving up the Brewers like lunchmeat, throwing 68% of pitches for strikes and still posting an amazing 3.6 pitchers per batter faced--really a feat considering his strikeout rate.
Haren now has a 1.54 ERA, a 0.74 WHIP, and an unfathomable 7.20 K/BB rate which would set all kinds of records if he maintained it. Even with everything Johan Santana is doing Haren is still probably the Cy Young choice at this early point in the season. But you need to remember--this is what Haren does; he is the ultimate early-season pitcher. In 2007, he went through a stretch where he raised his ERA in 13 straight games. That stretch is going to come in 2009, and while he will likely end up as one of the top 5-7 SPs in baseball, if you can actually flip him for a top 10 offensive player at some point, don't be afraid to pull the trigger. Those who have sold high on Haren the last two years have been grateful they did so in September.
Other notes from Saturday: It's now time for Jarrod Washburn to be owned in all standard leagues, so go check your wire and say hooray for contract years. Joel Pineiro should probably be picked up also in any league with any real depth...meanwhile, Oliver Perez can be safely cut in 100% of leagues since he's headed back to the minors, and David Price owners can begin the Jeff Neimann watch again after he ran up his season ERA to 5.68...the Cubs-Marlins game showed Ted Lilly in spectacular form, running up 10 K and no walks in 8 IP; while across the way, Anibal Sanchez looked unhealthy with yet another first-inning blowup and complaints of the ball grip. The Marlins really need this kid to complete their rotation, especially until Nolasco gets his stuff together.
~Evan the Censor
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