Alfonso Soriano Geovany Soto HRs

The Chicago Cubs Pittsburgh Pirates game has just started. And Alfonso Soriano already has 2 home runs in 2 at bats. Rookie stud Geovany Soto also has a home run early in this game.

The difference between these two is that Soto has been mashing since the beginning of the year. This is guy who went at the end of drafts at the Catcher position but has outproduced everyone else by far. Russell Martin? Joe Mauer? Neither can compare. Especially in terms of power. Soto is putting up Mike Piazza in his prime numbers which is something especially when you're talking about a fantasy position which is as weak as Catcher generally is. One of the most encouraging signs is his .415+ obp. He is a patient, selective hitter that will take walks if he does not have a pitch to drive. This is doubly impressive considering his status as a rookie.

Alfonso Soriano has always been known as a free swinger who does not walk much. But when the power is there, no one cares about the walks. Returning from injury at the beginning of May, Soriano started off meagerly but has since regained his mojo and more importantly his power as a leadoff man. 2 Home Runs in the Friday Day game already in 2 at bats. He now has had 2 hits in his last 5 games and the game before that he had 4 hits. Also, the last five games Soriano has 5 home runs. The steals aren't there and with Chicago's powerful lineup, he probably won't be asked to steal much. Like his on base percentage though, if he is hitting 30-40 home runs no one will be complaining.

Gavin Floyd White Sox no hitter fails

Looks like Ozzie Guillen's tirade paid off.

(AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

Gavin Floyd looked to match Mark Buehrle's no hitter of last year, but it did not happen. First of all he had given up 1 run with 0 hits, after walking Mauer and then an error bringing him home. A few starts ago against Detroit, Floyd flirted with a no hitter but ended with 1 hit also.

Maybe the most disappointing thing was that Ozzie Guillen pulled Gavin Floyd after he gave up the double to Mauer. It would have been nice to see the chap's first Complete Game of his career. Still, Floyd has impressed this year. He has not pitched spectacularly and his lack of strikeouts will cause for him to be passed over. But I stream started him in a few leagues tonight and was obviously pleased with the results. He can go deep in games and stifle hitters with his myriad of pitches, as he doesn't focus on any one pitch. His problem tonight and in other games are his control. He is always walking 2-4 batters and it would be nice if he could get that down.

Jermaine Dye had been in a slump recently but bopped another HR. Remember, this guy started off as the bust of the year last year hitting below .220. But after the all star break only Carlos Pena and Alex Rodriguez were hitting more home runs than Jermaine Dye. People forget that this guy hit 42 home runs with 120 RBI and a .315 average two years ago. Those are mvp numbers. Certainly he will not be replicating those numbers but he is a solid OF.

Yovani Gallardo tears ACL, on DL

More bad news in the world of fantasy as one of my favorite young stud SP's Yovani Gallardo is back on the DL and may require surgery (meaning out for a long time). This is too bad as Yovani was hurt earlier in the year and then came back and looked great. He wasn't striking batters out like he did the year before but a 1.80 ERA is worth mentioning.

This may mean another cursed year for the Brewers as they have not been in the playoffs since 1982, I believe. It looked like they were turning the corner with their young talent but having to rely on Ben Sheets to stay healthy now that Gallardo is out might be asking a little too much. Dave Bush and Jeff Suppan are not performing like they should so they will also need the younger pitchers at the end of the rotation to step up like Carlos Villanueva and Manny Parra. They have both had really nice outings at times, and really poor at other times. Manny probably has more high end potential but he also hasn't pitched more than 5.1 innings in any game this year.

Well at least Ryan Braun is back to mashing pitchers.

Smoltz back as an RP closer ?

Anyone who had Brett Myers last year knows the horror of a top SP turned closer. In fantasy I am one of the belief that you should not pay for saves, so having a 200 inning 200 K starter turned into a closer is sad, even if they are solid closers. In Smoltz's case he has been one of the true elite closers when he pitched as a closer in the early 2000's. Also what hurts most is the fact that you had to draft these guys somewhat early last year for Myers and this year for Smoltz. You expected them to be key cogs in your rotation.

None of this is set in stone, and even though John Smoltz said he would be happy as a Closer, it is evident that ultimately he wants to be a starter again. Bobby Cox likes him as a starter too. For the time being Smoltz is on the DL so you will want to stay updated here with this situation.

Also you have to consider what this means for the struggling Manny Acosta and for those people still holding onto Rafael Soriano. If Smoltz closes then these guys lose all of their value of course.

As far as the rotation, this gives a young stud like Jair Jurrjens an opportunity to step up. He has done so up to this point but they need him now more than ever.