Talking B's: Bay, Bard and Buchholz

By Chris Maza
Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Having a hard time remembering the last time Jason Bay had an RBI? Let me help you out. It was July 9. That's right folks, the man hs a big, giant goose egg in the RBI department since the All-Star break.

We all knew he wasn't going to keep up the ungodly pace he put up earlier this season, but this is an epic struggle like few we've ever seen.

His batting average was an impressive .324 in April and while he only hit .266 in May, he pounded 10 homers and 30 RBI. Even when he batted .230 in June, it didn't seem to be quite as big of a deal because he still knocked in 20. He was still productive.

But now it's reached the point where it's downright ugly. He's gone 12 straight without an RBI and over the last 30 days, he's posted an OPS of .616, putting him behind the likes of LA's Blake DeWitt and Casey Blake and San Francisco's Rich Aurilia.

Hopefully seing Oakland come to twon will help. In a very small sample size (11 games), Bay has done very well against A's pitching, posting a .385 batting average and 1.203 OPS (his highest OPS against any team).

Meet your new closer

Like what you've seen from Daniel Bard so far?

Let's hope so, because if he doesn't get traded, he very well could be the Red Sox' closerin the near future. Papelbon is under the Red Sox' control with arbitration eligible years in 2010 and 2011. He avoided arbitration this season with one-year contract, but rest assured he's going to be looking for more security.

With Jonathan Papelbon in the last year of his contract in 2012 and the Red Sox smartly not willing to issue a long-term, big-money contract to a closer, Bard appears to be the heir to the bullpen throne.

The Red Sox have made it pretty clear whom they wish to keep around, locking up the young talent they wanted to long-term deals last year. Papelbon was offerered no such deal, so the writing is pretty much on the wall. He wants top dollar on the marker and he'll most definitely get it, but not from the Red Sox. With the exception of a few (Mariano Rivera, Trevor Hoffman), the shelf life for a closer is not very long.

With what they've seen so far, they obviously appear confident to move on with Bard as Papelbon's replacement. The number have been pretty good. In 23 games (27.1 innings), he's posted a 2.26 ERA as well as bullpen bests in the form of a 1.01 WHIP and .184 opponent's batting average.

How he'll respond to ninth inning work remains to be seen, but with a fastball touching 100 and a nasty slider, he certainly has the raw talent.

Buchholz for the right price

Clay Buchholz, as it turns out, is available for trade.

While the answer was a resounding "No" when the Indians came calling offering Victor Martinez for Buchholz, according to some reports, the Red Sox may be willing to offer Buchholz as part of a package for Roy Halladay.

That package would ultimately shoot down my Bard-in-the-closer's-role theory, as it's said to also include Bard and a top-ranked prospect.

While it's all talk at this point, it does raise the question as to whether or not Buchholz, Bard and say a Michael Bowden or Lars Anderson would be too much for Halladay. In this case, the answer has to be no way. Halladay is one of the three best pitchers in baseball and instantly makes any team that acquires him better.

The real question now becomes would the Red Sox really have to give up that much? The main competition for Halladay has come from the Phillies, who are reportedly unwilling to part with both J.A. Happ and minor-league starter Kyle Drabek, who Charlie Manuel compared to Tom Seaver, even though he had Tommy John surgery last year.

Given the fact they would be trading within the division, the Red Sox probably will have to pay more than they usually would. But given the caliber of player they get in return, it just might be worth it and make them the front-runners in the American League.

Fantasy Baseball: Chin Music

By Chad Garner

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

Is there a doctor in the house?

How about a Doc Halladay?

The Toronto Blue Jays ace right-hander has been the talk of the Major League Baseball trade front and he's also been the talk of the fantasy town.

Yes, we all know how nasty he is from both perspectives -- 11-3 record, 2.62 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 123 Ks, 20 BB -- but all this trade talk has fantasy owners in a tizzy.

I know it doesn't matter in mixed leagues, but what about if you're in an AL only league and have Halladay leading your staff?

His numbers have just been too good to even think about trading him away, but now might be the time to roll the dice.

It might be the right thing to do if YOU think that he is going to be traded to the National League. We all know what happens if he does and you own him in an AL only league -- can you say bye-bye Doc? 

You risk the chance of losing him completely if he's dealt to the Philadelphia Phillies (that's where all the talk is centered around currently), so do you take less or even get a straight up offer for a hitter or some kind of package deal to assure yourself that you won't be stuck holding the Doc bag if he's packing for the National League?

It's a risky move, but one that could win or lose you a championship.

I may be crazy, but I think that he's going to stay in Toronto. Just a hunch because the asking price for him is crazy. But if he does get traded, I think the Phillies will pony up two top-of-the-line pitching prospects and at least one key positional player (that appears to be Toronto's asking price anyway) to get him.

At this point, flip a coin.

But if you think you can get equal value back for Halladay right now and don't want to have to worry if he's going to get traded, then do it so the worrying will vanish faster than you can say Doc.

If you're in an NL only league and you've got that No. 1 waiver claim, don't pick up anyone yet, unless you put in for Matt Holliday who was recently traded to the Cardinals from the A's this past week. But with the No. 1 slot, it assures you of whoever you want if a high profile player becomes available. No doubt save that top waiver spot for someone who gets dealt from the AL to the NL. If it's the Doc, you'll be partying like a rock star into the early morning and laughing at all your other owners.

The only line you'll have to use is, "Is there a doctor in the house?"

That'll be sure to tick everyone off.

FREE FALLING

Minnesota's Nick Blackburn is in a major tailspin and it's not looking pretty right now. In his last two stars, the right-hander has given up 19 hits and 13 earned runs in only 8 2/3 innings, including 3 homers while not striking anyone out. Maybe he has a dead arm right now? Either bench him or cut him loss. Don't start him until he shows he's coming out of his funk.

HUNGRY FOR A BIG MAC

Washinton's Mike MacDougal hasn't done anything wrong not to be owned. The default Nationals closer has got six saves and hasn't even blown one yet. While he's on the worst team in baseball and won't be picking up saves on a regular basis, he can be a nice complimentary piece to your bullpen if you're in desperate need of saves. He's only owned in 18 percent of Yahoo! leagues. He's worth a pickup.