Odds & ends

Sporting News, The, July 22, 2005

All-Star snubs and their odds of posting strong second halves:

RHP Matt Morris Cardinals

Even Morris' shoulder is healthy, and he's as sharp as ever. His strikeouts-to-walks ratio after 15 starts was a ridiculous 73:16.

RHP Matt Clement Red Sox

2:1 Clement has had little trouble adjusting to the American League. Shoulder and neck pain led to a drastic decline after the 2004 break, but that's a minor concern for his '05 owners.

3B Morgan Ensberg Astros

5:2 Ensberg had 24 home runs before the All-Star break after hitting only 10 all last season. Back trouble--which Ensberg has--tends to return, though, and Ensberg can be streaky.

OF Cliff Floyd Mets

7:2 Floyd always has had talent, but good health rarely has been on his side. The last time he had 400 at-bats in a season was in 2002.--Rob Hurtt

SPLITSVILLE

All-Star breaking point

* Many catchers wear down in the second half, and the Marlins' Paul Lo Duca is no exception. He's a career .285 hitter, hut his average after the break is .254.

* Combine Diamondbacks righthander Javier Vazquez's career second half splits with his fantastic strikeouts-to-walks ratio this season (110:16) and you have a big-time buy. His career ERA is nearly half a run lower after the All-Star break (4.06 compared with 4.45).

* Frustrated Adrian Beltre owners have reason to hold on to him. The Mariners' third baseman's career batting average is 26 points higher after the break, and his slugging percentage is 68 points higher.

* Angels lefthander Jarrod Washburn's WHIP has been troublesome, and the worries don't end there. His career second half ERA (4.29) is half a run higher than his first half ERA, making this low-strikeout pitcher even less appealing.--Seth Trachtman

Insights from the editors of Fantasy Source Baseball, your online Fantasy authority: fantasygames.sportingnews.com/baseball.