NEW YORK YANKEES

Johnny Damon picked a good time to decrease his G/F ratio to a career low 1.04, down from last year’s 1.29.  Last season he played his home games in Fenway Park, which reduces left-handed batting power by 18%.  This year he moved to Yankee Stadium, which increases lefty power by 7%.  By fully taking advantage of his new surroundings, he has already tied his career home run mark with 20.  Expect the power to continue.

Bobby Abreu’s power was in decline when he still in Philadelphia, but since coming to the Yankees it is even more pronounced.  He has just 1 home run in 78 AB since the trade that brought him to New York.  With a G/F ratio of 1.86 with the Phillies, it was not a surprise that he only had 8 home runs in 339 AB.  With the Yankees his G/F ratio is 1.00, so he is hitting the ball in the air more often.  At just 32 years of age, it is hard to believe that he has lost the strength to get the ball over the wall.  If he continues with a G/F in the 1.00 to 1.20 range, the balls will begin to leave the park at a higher rate.  At least he is not letting it affect other parts of his game.  With the Yankees, he is a perfect 7 for 7 in steals and is batting .397.

On the surface, Mariano Rivera still looks as dominant as ever with 31 saves in 34 tries and a 1.91 ERA.  But below the surface, there is a warning sign that he could be starting to show his age.  His K/9 of 6.0 is down from a 9.0 mark last season and is on the low side for a closer.  His ability to induce ground balls still makes him effective, but at age 36 he may not be dominating hitters much longer.

Andy Phillips was placed on the 15-day DL with a strained ribcage muscle.  He has been a non-factor in fantasy baseball since the Yankees acquired Craig Wilson.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES

David Newhan began a minor league rehab assignment and should be back by early September.  He will not play enough to be used in any fantasy format.

Fernando Tatis has shown a little pop in his bat with 5 extra-base hits in 37 AB.  Don’t expect it to last.  When he was last in the majors back in 2003, he had just 2 home runs in 175 AB.  He also was not hitting for power in Triple-A this year, with just 7 home runs in 326 AB.

Jeff Conine needs 42 more plate appearances to trigger a $2 million player option for 2007.  Since he most likely not in the Orioles plans for next season, it will be interesting to see if he begins to lose some AB to prevent the option from vesting.

The Orioles patience with Nick Markakis is paying off.  The 22-year old rookie has shown some nice in-season power development.  From April to June, he had just 2 home runs in 202 AB, while from July to the present, he has 6 home runs in a 137 AB.  His post-All Star break batting average is .365.  A bright future awaits him.

BOSTON RED SOX

Tim Wakefield will not return today, as he had hoped.  The new timetable is next Sunday, but now that could be in jeopardy because of back stiffness.

Manager Terry Francona called September 1st a realistic day for Trot Nixon’s return.  He is eligible to come off the DL today, but a staph infection set him back.  It is looking like Jason Varitek will also be ready to return in early September.

The Red Sox acquired Eric Hinske from the Blue Jays.  Hinske will occasionally spell Kevin Youkilis at first base and Mike Lowell at third base.  He will also pick up some AB in right field until Trot Nixon returns.  There probably will not be much of a difference in the amount of AB that he was getting in Toronto.  If you have him in an AL-only league, stay with him, but he will not be playing enough to justify a spot in mixed leagues.

The Red Sox will likely recall Kason Gabbard from the minors to start Tuesday’s game against the Angels.  With a 1-6 record and a 5.38 ERA in 7 Triple-A starts, he is not even a good play in minor league fantasy baseball.

Jonathan Papelbon has blown 3 of his last 6 save opportunities.  Before you get too alarmed, consider that in the 3 blown save games he only allowed 4 ER in 4.1 innings and that he struck out 5 Yankees in Sunday’s game.  His ERA is still a microscopic 1.00.

TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS

Brian Meadows’ mediocre skills are beginning to catch up with him.  He has allowed 11 ER in his last 3.1 innings and has just 2 strikeouts in his last 7.1 innings.  It would not be surprising if the Rays switched to a new closer.  The two candidates are Seth McClung and Chad Orvella.  As a relief pitcher, McClung is still walking too many batters, 5 in 7.1 innings, to be successful and is not recommended even if he gets the job.  Orvella pitched well for the Rays as a rookie last season, but was sent to the minors after a disastrous start this season.  He completely dominated Triple-A hitters with a 12.8 K/9 and a 1.75 ERA.  Orvella has a better skill set to close than McClung and could be worth a gamble if he gets the job.

According to manager Joe Madden, the Rays have not yet decided if Delmon Young will be called up when the rosters expand in September.

Jonny Gomes is reportedly considering season-ending shoulder surgery.  With a .218 batting average and a 70% contact rate, it is probably not a bad idea.

Jamie Shields has either been consistently good or bad this season.  After a tough first start, he reeled off 4 solid starts, followed by 5 rough starts.  Now he has looked very good in his last five starts with a 3.07 ERA, 8.9 K/9 and a 1.7 BB/9.  Another positive sign is that two of those starts were against teams, the Red Sox and Angels that hit him hard the first time they saw him.  He can be used in AL-only formats.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS

Roy Halladay keeps rolling along with a 16-3 record and a 3.18 ERA.  With a low K/9 of 5.1, the key to his success is pinpoint control, a BB/9 of 1.2, and inducing groundballs, a G/F ratio of 2.27.  At 29 years of age, he is in his prime and is a top candidate for the Cy Young award this season.

The Eric Hinske trade should open up more AB for Greg Zaun and Bengie Molina.  Molina has already responded by swatting 3 home runs in his last 5 games.  His 13 home runs put him within 2 of equaling a career high.  He also maintains a strong contact rate of 89%, which could give him some batting average upside from his current .285 number.

Gustavo Chacin is scheduled to come of the DL and start Wednesday’s game at home against the A’s.  With a low K/9 of 4.9 and G/F ratio of .73, combined with a high BB/9 of 4.0, he is not recommended in any format.