Cardinalsnet.com | St. Louis Cardinals News, cardinals Scores, Game Recaps & Commentary - <div><h3>KEY</h3></div><p></p><b>Discard</b> - Drop player (in most circumstances)<br><b>Stash</b> - Hold player if roster space is available; consider dropping if trend continues<br><b>Hold</b> - Do not drop player (in most circumstances)<p><h3>Catchers</h3><p><h4>Jose Molina, New York Yankees</h4><p>The Yankees effectively robbed Molina of any value for the remainder of the season with the acquisition of catcher <b>Ivan Rodriguez </b>from the Tigers. Even at 36, Rodriguez is still among the game's most durable backstops, and Molina figures to see minimal time behind the dish. Discard the light-hitting Molina in all formats.<p><i>Shallow mixed</i>: Discard<br><i>Deep mixed</i>: Discard<br><i>AL-only</i>: Discard<p><h3>First Basemen</h3><p><h4>Adam LaRoche, Pittsburgh</h4><p>The Pirates lineup took a hit Sunday, July 27, when LaRoche (ribcage) strained a muscle in his ribs while swinging. Bothering him mostly when he rotates, LaRoche is expected to avoid all activities for seven to 10 days and could miss anywhere from two to six weeks. He was one of the league's hottest players in July, posting a .390-7-18 line with 16 runs, and LaRoche has a track record of being a better second-half player. Stash him on the DL in all formats at least until the team firms up the timeframe for his return.<p><i>Shallow mixed</i>: Hold<br><i>Deep mixed:</i> Hold<br><i>NL-only</i>: Hold<p><h3>Second Basemen</h3><p><h4>Alexi Casilla, Minnesota</h4><p>Casilla's (thumb) surprising campaign could be coming to an end. The 24-year-old infielder tore a ligament in his right thumb and is expected to meet with a doctor Wednesday, July 30, to determine how long he will be out. The injury kills any value mixed owners derived from his .313 average or 38 runs. AL-only owners could hang on to him until a more concrete timetable is released, though be ready to drop him if the prognosis calls for a lengthy absence.<p><i>Shallow mixed</i>: Discard<br><i>Deep mixed</i>: Discard<br><i>AL-only</i>: Stash<p><h4>Eugenio Velez, San Francisco</h4><p>With second baseman <b>Ray Durham </b>(Milwaukee Brewers) out of the way, Velez was expected to receive a bump in playing time. However, he recorded just one hit in the two starts immediately following Durham's departure, and the Giants have turned to infielder<b> Jose Castillo</b> at second. Manager Bruce Bochy has indicated he plans to give Castillo, a regular second baseman from 2004-06, a run at the position. Velez was a borderline addition at best, but he can now be dropped in all but deeper NL-only leagues.<p><i>Shallow mixed</i>: Discard<br><i>Deep mixed:</i> Discard<br><i>NL-only</i>: Stash<p><h3>Outfielders</h3><p><h4>Andruw Jones, Los Angeles Dodgers</h4><p>Since outfielder <b>Juan Pierre</b> (knee) returned from the DL Friday, July 25, Jones has taken eight at-bats in five games. Manager Joe Torre has told Jones matchups will decide who plays with Jones seeing most of his action against left-handed pitching. Feel free to discard the .169 hitter in all mixed formats, while his spot on NL-only rosters is tenuous at best.<p><i>Shallow mixed:</i> Discard<br><i>Deep mixed:</i> Discard<br><i>NL-only</i>: Stash<p><h3>Starting Pitchers</h3><p><h4>Tim Hudson, Atlanta</h4><p>The news just keeps getting worse and worse for Atlanta fans. Hudson (elbow), the Braves' top pitcher this year, was placed on the DL Monday, July 28, and an MRI turned up ligament damage in his pitching elbow. It is not known how long he will miss, but the words "damage" and "ulnar collateral ligament" in the same sentence are never good signs for pitchers. Stash Hudson for now in all leagues with the caveat to drop him if his diagnosis comes back as season-ending.<p><i>Shallow mixed</i>: Stash<br><i>Deep mixed</i>: Stash<br><i>NL-only</i>: Stash<p><h4>Hiroki Kuroda, Los Angeles Dodgers</h4><p>After three straight ugly outings, Kuroda is being given an extra day of rest before making his next start with the righty expected to take his next turn in the rotation Monday, Aug. 4. Kuroda's recent starts have been frustrating for fantasy owners as he showed brilliant form during his first three starts in July (2-0, 1.19 ERA). Most owners should retain him until at least Monday to see if the extra rest helps. Those who don't need help with their ratios can consider dropping him in shallow mixed leagues.<p><i>Shallow mixed</i>: Stash<br><i>Deep mixed</i>: Hold<br><i>NL-only</i>: Hold<p><h4>Micah Owings, Arizona</h4><p>Owings' latest breakdown - eight runs in three innings against the lowly Padres on Monday, July 28 - prompted the D-Backs to option the struggling pitcher to Triple-A Tucson. The team is hoping he can become more consistent with his mechanics and rebuild his confidence. For mixed league owners, now is the time to dump him. Stash him in NL-only formats if you have the room.<p><i>Shallow mixed</i>: Discard<br><i>Deep mixed</i>: Discard<br><i>NL-only</i>: Stash<p><h4>Jo-Jo Reyes, Atlanta</h4><p>Reyes was sent to Triple-A Richmond on Monday, July 28, after posting a 3-9 record with a 5.33 ERA in 16 games this year. Manager Bobby Cox is looking for the southpaw to become more comfortable in game situations. For fantasy purposes, Reyes does not have much value in any leagues. Uncertainty in the Braves rotation could mean a rotation spot opens up. However, until Reyes is recalled, he should be discarded in all but deeper NL-only leagues.<p><i>Shallow mixed</i>: Discard<br><i>Deep mixed</i>: Discard<br><i>NL-only</i>: Stash<p><h4>Brian Burres, Baltimore</h4><p><b>Dennis Sarfate's</b> insertion into the rotation has come at Burres' expense as he has been demoted to the bullpen for the time being. The lefty has a 7-7 record this year despite posting a 5.37 ERA and 1.62 WHIP. Not really a mixed league option, Burres is only worth retaining in deeper AL-only leagues.<p><i>Shallow mixed:</i> Discard<br><i>Deep mixed</i>: Discard<br><i>AL-only</i>: Stash<p><h3>Relief Pitchers</h3><p><h4>Ryan Franklin, St. Louis</h4><p>Franklin was removed from the closer's role Tuesday, July 29, as manager Tony La Russa returned pitcher <b>Jason Isringhausen </b>back to his old job. Franklin is now expected to be used as a setup man. Without the saves, Franklin does not have much value as his ratios are average at best (3.81 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 35 strikeouts in 52 innings). However, speculative owners could hang on to him in deeper leagues as "Izzy" has been far from reliable as the ninth-inning option this year.<p><i>Shallow mixed</i>: Discard<br><i>Deep mixed:</i> Stash<br><i>NL-only</i>: Hold<p></p>

KEY

Discard - Drop player (in most circumstances)
Stash - Hold player if roster space is available; consider dropping if trend continues
Hold - Do not drop player (in most circumstances)

Catchers

Jose Molina, New York Yankees

The Yankees effectively robbed Molina of any value for the remainder of the season with the acquisition of catcher Ivan Rodriguez from the Tigers. Even at 36, Rodriguez is still among the game's most durable backstops, and Molina figures to see minimal time behind the dish. Discard the light-hitting Molina in all formats.

Shallow mixed: Discard
Deep mixed: Discard
AL-only: Discard

First Basemen

Adam LaRoche, Pittsburgh

The Pirates lineup took a hit Sunday, July 27, when LaRoche (ribcage) strained a muscle in his ribs while swinging. Bothering him mostly when he rotates, LaRoche is expected to avoid all activities for seven to 10 days and could miss anywhere from two to six weeks. He was one of the league's hottest players in July, posting a .390-7-18 line with 16 runs, and LaRoche has a track record of being a better second-half player. Stash him on the DL in all formats at least until the team firms up the timeframe for his return.

Shallow mixed: Hold
Deep mixed: Hold
NL-only: Hold

Second Basemen

Alexi Casilla, Minnesota

Casilla's (thumb) surprising campaign could be coming to an end. The 24-year-old infielder tore a ligament in his right thumb and is expected to meet with a doctor Wednesday, July 30, to determine how long he will be out. The injury kills any value mixed owners derived from his .313 average or 38 runs. AL-only owners could hang on to him until a more concrete timetable is released, though be ready to drop him if the prognosis calls for a lengthy absence.

Shallow mixed: Discard
Deep mixed: Discard
AL-only: Stash

Eugenio Velez, San Francisco

With second baseman Ray Durham (Milwaukee Brewers) out of the way, Velez was expected to receive a bump in playing time. However, he recorded just one hit in the two starts immediately following Durham's departure, and the Giants have turned to infielder Jose Castillo at second. Manager Bruce Bochy has indicated he plans to give Castillo, a regular second baseman from 2004-06, a run at the position. Velez was a borderline addition at best, but he can now be dropped in all but deeper NL-only leagues.

Shallow mixed: Discard
Deep mixed: Discard
NL-only: Stash

Outfielders

Andruw Jones, Los Angeles Dodgers

Since outfielder Juan Pierre (knee) returned from the DL Friday, July 25, Jones has taken eight at-bats in five games. Manager Joe Torre has told Jones matchups will decide who plays with Jones seeing most of his action against left-handed pitching. Feel free to discard the .169 hitter in all mixed formats, while his spot on NL-only rosters is tenuous at best.

Shallow mixed: Discard
Deep mixed: Discard
NL-only: Stash

Starting Pitchers

Tim Hudson, Atlanta

The news just keeps getting worse and worse for Atlanta fans. Hudson (elbow), the Braves' top pitcher this year, was placed on the DL Monday, July 28, and an MRI turned up ligament damage in his pitching elbow. It is not known how long he will miss, but the words "damage" and "ulnar collateral ligament" in the same sentence are never good signs for pitchers. Stash Hudson for now in all leagues with the caveat to drop him if his diagnosis comes back as season-ending.

Shallow mixed: Stash
Deep mixed: Stash
NL-only: Stash

Hiroki Kuroda, Los Angeles Dodgers

After three straight ugly outings, Kuroda is being given an extra day of rest before making his next start with the righty expected to take his next turn in the rotation Monday, Aug. 4. Kuroda's recent starts have been frustrating for fantasy owners as he showed brilliant form during his first three starts in July (2-0, 1.19 ERA). Most owners should retain him until at least Monday to see if the extra rest helps. Those who don't need help with their ratios can consider dropping him in shallow mixed leagues.

Shallow mixed: Stash
Deep mixed: Hold
NL-only: Hold

Micah Owings, Arizona

Owings' latest breakdown - eight runs in three innings against the lowly Padres on Monday, July 28 - prompted the D-Backs to option the struggling pitcher to Triple-A Tucson. The team is hoping he can become more consistent with his mechanics and rebuild his confidence. For mixed league owners, now is the time to dump him. Stash him in NL-only formats if you have the room.

Shallow mixed: Discard
Deep mixed: Discard
NL-only: Stash

Jo-Jo Reyes, Atlanta

Reyes was sent to Triple-A Richmond on Monday, July 28, after posting a 3-9 record with a 5.33 ERA in 16 games this year. Manager Bobby Cox is looking for the southpaw to become more comfortable in game situations. For fantasy purposes, Reyes does not have much value in any leagues. Uncertainty in the Braves rotation could mean a rotation spot opens up. However, until Reyes is recalled, he should be discarded in all but deeper NL-only leagues.

Shallow mixed: Discard
Deep mixed: Discard
NL-only: Stash

Brian Burres, Baltimore

Dennis Sarfate's insertion into the rotation has come at Burres' expense as he has been demoted to the bullpen for the time being. The lefty has a 7-7 record this year despite posting a 5.37 ERA and 1.62 WHIP. Not really a mixed league option, Burres is only worth retaining in deeper AL-only leagues.

Shallow mixed: Discard
Deep mixed: Discard
AL-only: Stash

Relief Pitchers

Ryan Franklin, St. Louis

Franklin was removed from the closer's role Tuesday, July 29, as manager Tony La Russa returned pitcher Jason Isringhausen back to his old job. Franklin is now expected to be used as a setup man. Without the saves, Franklin does not have much value as his ratios are average at best (3.81 ERA, 1.54 WHIP, 35 strikeouts in 52 innings). However, speculative owners could hang on to him in deeper leagues as "Izzy" has been far from reliable as the ninth-inning option this year.

Shallow mixed: Discard
Deep mixed: Stash
NL-only: Hold