Philadelphia Phillies pitcher J.A. Happ is in the middle of an argument between baseball purists and stat heads, says David Murphy of the Philadelphia Daily News. To make a long story short, there’s a disagreement sparked by ESPN.com baseball writer Keith Law on whether Happ’s success last season was based on fluke or a special combination of Happ’s intangibles.

We have a foot in both camps when it comes to qualifying vs. quantifying the game of baseball. Problem is, both views on Happ suggest that he’s due for a reality check. Read more »

Atlanta Braves right-hander Tommy Hanson may not be overpowering Major League hitters, but he’s making his case for National League Rookie of the Year, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

After another solid effort last night, Hanson improved to 9-2 with a 3.26 ERA and jumped into the ROY conversation with Philadelphia Phillies left-hander J.A. Happ, Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen and St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Colby Rasmus. Read more »

J.A. Happ, LHP, Philadelphia Phillies
Status: Establishing himself as Phils’ most reliable starter
Basics: 8-2, 2.75 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, 89 Ks in 121.0 IP
Key Stats: Has made Quality Starts in 9 of last 10
What to Watch For: Endurance as innings count rises
Other Notes: Has been a key stabilizer in shaky Phillies’ rotation … has had some shaky outings at Citizen’s Bank Park, recording a 3.77 home ERA compared to 1.84 ERA on the road … in 528 minor league innings, he allowed just 440 hits and struck out 545 batters … also had a solid stint in the majors as a reliever in 2008 with a 3.70 ERA in 31.2 IP
Verdict: Add in all formats; no reason he shouldn’t be owned in 100 percent of leagues

Young pitchers and recovering veterans are the theme this week, since a handful of each offer the best potential value on the waiver wire. The must-know name is Atlanta Braves phenom Tommy Hanson, who will make his much-anticipated 2009 debut Saturday against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Another youngster, Detroit Tigers right-hander Rick Porcello, has been pitching effectively in the big leagues all season. He is not a perfect addition to a fantasy rotation — he faces an innings limit and has a low strikeout rate — but Porcello has a lot of talent and a knack for earning decisions in his starts.

Injured veterans John Smoltz and Kelvim Escobar are rehabbing right now, and we know exactly what both have to offer when healthy. Of course, there are questions about just when they’re healthy and how long they can stay that way, but those risks are what makes them so widely available in fantasy leagues. Take on the injury risk, and there are huge potential rewards. Read more »

What a week it has been so far. The amazing part of this is that we haven’t even entered the crucial weekend series yet. Just about every game counts, for both MLB and fantasy managers. Fantasy owners have probably been tracking the status of Chris Carpenter and are probably highly disappointed as he is now done for the remainder of the 2008 season.

Now may be the time to pick up those free agents that are contributing to teams in the final playoff push. The Marlins have plenty of overlooked, young talent and they will be fighting for their playoff lives against the NL East leading Philadelphia Phillies this weekend. Keep an eye on that Rays and Twins series this weekend as well. The Twins have more to fight for as they are still trailing the White Sox in the AL Central and may have some key contributors that are free agents in your league.  Read more »