MLB Skinny: Power Outage

CLOSER HOT SEAT FLORIDA MARLINS RED HOT 1st Chair: Taylor Tankersley, Henry Owens, Matt Lindstrom, Kevin Gregg 2nd Chair: Jorge Julio Skinny: Julio has been demoted after allowing seven earned runs and nine walks (just one strike out) in his past 3.2 IP spanning five outings. Manager Fredi Gonzalez hopes that using him in middle relief will help get him back on track. "We've got to get him back," Gonzalez said. "He's an important part of this club, and we've got to get him fixed." In search of a replacement for Julio, Gonzalez plans to audition a large contingent of his bullpen, including Tankersley (just returned from the DL), Lindstrom, Gregg and Owens, who picked up the team's most recent save (Monday, April 9). The odds currently favor Owens, who has been conspicuous for his absence during the team's current four-game losing streak – saving him for more important situations? But don't rule out Tankersley and Lindstrom, who has yet to allow a run this year and possesses a big-time fastball. TORONTO BLUE JAYS RED HOT 1st Chair: Jason Frasor Injured: B.J. Ryan Skinny: Ryan owners found out on Monday that a strained elbow will sideline the closer 4-6 weeks. Frasor, who recorded 17 saves as a rookie for the Jays back in '04, assumes the closer role while Ryan is out. He's a must add, obviously. KANSAS CITY ROYALS HOT 1st Chair: Joakim Soria, David Riske Injured: Octavio Dotel Skinny: Change at the closer role in Kansas City can often take a while to reveal itself given that the team doesn't generate many save opportunities. The team's recent four-game losing streak emphasizes this point. Soria did close out the team's last victory (last Tuesday), and the Rule 5 pickup has been a revelation so far – 6.0 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 6 K. Riske, who sports a 5.40 ERA in 5.0 IP, is 1-for-2 in save opportunities and seems likely to take a backseat in the short term while the team explores Soria's ability to take hold of the role. TEXAS RANGERS WARM 1st Chair: Eric Gagne 2nd Chair: Akinori Otsuka Skinny: Gagne breezed through his first regular-season appearance since June 6 of '06, setting down the Mariners on Friday by allowing just one hit and striking out a batter in the ninth (he also induced a double-play) to earn the save. Finally back from elbow problems, Gagne probably won't regularly pitch on back-to-back nights for a while, so Otsuka is worth keeping in leagues of 12-plus teams as he's still in line to pick up an occasional save here and there. HOUSTON ASTROS WARM 1st Chair: Dan Wheeler 2nd Chair: Brad Lidge Skinny: Wheeler is 2-for-2 in save situations since taking over for Lidge, but he did struggle last Tuesday in a non-save scenario, allowing two earned runs on four hits in the ninth inning after entering with a 4-0 lead. Lidge's name has come up in trade rumors since being demoted, but don't write him off for the Astros end-game picture down the road – if Wheeler continues to have occasional hiccups and Lidge finds himself while working in middle relief, you never know …

By my count, there have been 20 games postponed already this season due to inclement conditions. To which I say, "Enough already." You don't even have to be a head-to-head owner to be frustrated by this foul (weather) trend. I haven't watched "Inconvenient Truth" yet, but if this is the sign of the times, count me among those that feel the new standard should be that only teams with roof-enabled stadiums and/or located south of, say, the 35th parallel should be allowed to host games during the first couple weeks of the season. While my happy face is on hold as I wait for those grey skies to clear up, here's a look back at the weekend that was on the diamond:

WEEKEND UPDATE: Need-to-know info from the past few days

• Perhaps more frustrating than the recent bad weather has been the sustained power outages by some of fantasy's bigger names – Alfonso Soriano, Carlos Delgado, Mark Teixeira, Manny Ramirez, David Wright, to name a few, all have yet to register their first home run. I'm getting killed in a couple leagues because I'm sitting on some of these guys. Owners of Soriano, a consensus top 5 pick, have to be particularly irked. And, while I'm not a Soriano owner, I can offer some solace with a quick history lesson. Last year, Soriano went through two droughts equal to or greater than his current 11-game dry spell – one of 13 games and one of 11 games. In fact, this is hardly unfamiliar territory for the others, as well. Here's a look at some homerless streaks from '06 by the previously mentioned sluggers, along with their ending HR total:

Manny Ramirez (16-game drought – hit 35 HRs)
Mark Teixeira (17- and 22-game droughts – hit 33 HRs)
Carlos Delgado (15-game drought – hit 38 HRs)
David Wright (28-, 20- and 18-game droughts – hit 26)

So, as much as these players are driving you to madness, it's not time to do anything drastic. The season is less than eight percent complete. Patience is still the most virtuous route – that is to say, I'll continue to ignore the deals where I give up Jose Reyes at a discounted rate for power.

• If there is to be another Francisco Liriano this season – and that's a huge "if" – I firmly believe it's going to be last week's Prospect Watch nominee, Tim Lincecum. His stuff is just downright filthy. I drafted him in a couple mixed leagues, and was all hot to add him on Monday in two of my other leagues (Funston Blog League and Y! Friends and Family League) after seeing that he didn't allow a run in his second outing at Triple-A – he's now 2-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 17 Ks in 12 IP. Unfortunately, I was beat to the punch by a matter of hours in both leagues. But it says something that a pitcher that has yet to throw a pitch at the major league level is already snapped up across the board in all my leagues. He's ready for his chance, and he has Russ Ortiz standing in his way. Yeah, it's not going to be long …

• Notable Notes: The Blue Jays took a beating over the weekend as closer B.J. Ryan (elbow), shortstop Troy Glaus (heel) and outfielder Reed Johnson (herniated disc) all landed on the DL. Only Glaus is likely to return when his 15 days are up, however. Ryan is gone for roughly a month and a half, while Johnson isn't expected back until around the All-Star break … Rich Harden left Sunday's game after 6.0 IP (1 ER, 7 K) because of shoulder tightness. While it doesn't sound serious, it's wince-worthy news given his injury history … Victor Martinez (quad) is set to return to catching duties on Tuesday … Adam Dunn missed Sunday's game because of back spasms … Aramis Ramirez (wrist) is expected to play Monday … For those who have asked, and there have been many, Zack Greinke and Adam Wainwright will earn SP-eligibility this week after their third start of the season.

BARGAIN BIN: Top players available in 50 percent of Yahoo! leagues

• Chris Duncan, StL, 1B/OF
  I actually get a lot of emails from people asking me to give Duncan Big Board consideration, which makes it even more surprising that he is owned in just 52 percent of Yahoo! leagues – although he currently tops the Buzz Index most added list. With three home runs in his first 10 games, Duncan now has 25 home runs in his past 100 games dating back to last season. Hitting in front of Albert Pujols, I think it's safe to say the guy can hit a fastball. The son of Cards pitching coach Dave Duncan, Chris is a legit power source – a rarely available resource on waivers. I actually added him in one mixed, 12-team head-to-head league over the weekend, so I know he can be had.

PROSPECT WATCH: Top players down on the farm

• Adam Lind (ETA – Now)
  Reed Johnson is out until at least July after having surgery to repair a herniated disc. That has opened the door for Lind to get everyday playing time. Lind, who acquitted himself nicely in his 60 at-bat MLB debut in '06 (.367 BA), went 4-for-8 combined Saturday and Sunday in his first appearances of '07. He needs to make three more starts in the outfield to shed his Utility-only tag in Yahoo! leagues, and that should happen this coming week. The rookie entered the season rated as Toronto's top prospect according to Baseball America after hitting a combined .335 with 26 home runs between minor league and major league stops last season. He's an AL-only add, for sure, and he's worth a bench flyer in mixed leagues of 14-plus teams.

MARKET MOVERS: Charting player values
Ian Kinsler, Tex, 2B – A .476, 4-HR week by Kinsler is starting to make the guy who drafted Chase Utley as a top 10 pick a little bitter.

Russell Martin, LAD, C – Three stolen bases this past week pushes his season total to four. Four stolen bases from a catcher! His .366 BA and 11 Runs are gravy.

Al Reyes, TB, RP – A potential closer-by-committee situation has turned into the Reyes show, as the veteran reliever who sat out all of '06 has nailed all four save opportunities for the D-Rays – he has yet to allow a run in 5.0 IP.

Ramon Ortiz, Min, SP – A long time ago, Ortiz was a highly regarded pitching prospect. After a 2-0 start (1.80 ERA) folks are starting to recall that 15-9, 3.77 ERA, 162-K season with the Angels in '02.

Tim Hudson, Atl, SP – Hudson has pitched seven stellar innings in each of his three outings this season, combining for 2 W, a 0.86 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and 16 K.

Aaron Hill, Tor, 2B/SS – Fantasy owners could ignore him only so long. After a .476 week that included 8 Runs and 7 RBI, Hill currently sits among the top 6 most added players in the Yahoo! game.

Gary Sheffield, Det, 1B, OF – Life after the Yankees continues to be a struggle for Sheff, who endured a 2-for-24 week to lower his BA to .122.

Eric Byrnes, Ari, OF – The poster-child for streaky, Byrnes is 5-for-29 (.138) in his past seven games after opening the year on a 10-for-26 (.385) tear.

Mike Cameron, SD, OF – Cameron hit just .095 this past week, and struck out nine times in 21 at bats, second-most in the past seven days.

Jason Schmidt, LAD, SP – Schmidt went 0-2 this past week, allowing eight earned runs (three home runs) in 6.0 IP combined. He will work out in a bullpen on Monday to determine the cause of his decreased velocity.

Yahoo! Sports Blog Funston League Update
As referenced above, homerless starts by Mark Teixeira and Carlos Delgado are wreaking havoc on my Blog League team. Strong pitching by Felix Hernandez and Josh Beckett has kept me afloat despite pulling a 1 in the home run category – I'm six points out of second place. Dave Aardsma, Tim Lincecum, and Brian Giles are the latest league-wide free agent additions.

You can follow along with the Yahoo! Friends and Family experts league here, but please spare me your ridicule – it's a long season.