With all the technological advancements over the past 50 years, there’s something magical about listening to vinyl records.
It is amazing to hear the sound quality of Pink Floyd’s “Dark Side of the Moon” or Neil Young’s “Harvest” from a technology that feels like it should have been rendered obsolete years ago.
Even with all of the scratches and imperfections, it provides audiophiles with a direct link to the past.
When it comes to fantasy baseball, we have to remember that just because something is older and previously used (perhaps slightly damaged), it doesn’t mean it has no value or should be discarded.
Sometimes, it is better than everything else available.
From 2016-22, Robbie Ray struck out 11.5 per nine innings as one of the best strikeout pitchers in the game.
He went 68-54 with a 3.89 ERA and 1.281 WHIP in that stretch. Unfortunately, the lefty underwent Tommy John surgery, as well as flexor tendon repair, in May 2023 after making one start for Seattle.
Fast forward to Wednesday, and Ray was back on a mound for the first time in 448 days — this time for the Giants.
After an ugly 34-pitch first inning, in which he walked two and hit two batters, Ray settled down and cruised through the next four innings against the Dodgers.
He struck out the side in the second frame and struck out at least one in each of the next three innings (including two in the fifth).
Though Ray lasted just five innings, he didn’t allow a hit, struck out eight and finished with 22 swinging strikes on his 86 pitches (including seven with his curveball and six with his slider).
He had a 47.4 percent whiff rate with his four-seamer, a 54.5 percent rate with his slider and a 77.8 percent rate with his knuckle curve.
More good news: His fastball topped out at 95.2 mph, according to Statcast.
It is only one start, but it was a promising debut from the 2021 Cy Young winner.
It’s a promising start from a one-time ace who has struck out 11.0 per nine and limited opponents to a .232 average over his 11-year career.
It’s a promising opportunity for fantasy managers to add an established arm, rostered in just 20.1 percent of ESPN leagues as of Friday, to their squad.
A look at other veteran arms who have returned from injuries (or are on the road back) and could help fantasy squads:
Alex Cobb is another Giants pitcher who has not pitched in the majors this season, as he has been recovering from offseason hip surgery and shoulder issues.
This is a pitcher who went 22-18 with a 3.79 ERA and 8.7 strikeouts per nine over the past three seasons, and allowed three earned runs or less in 57 of his 74 starts in that stretch.
Cobb is getting closer to a return, and is 1-1 with a 2.76 ERA, 11 strikeouts per nine in five minor league starts.
That includes five shutout innings with four strikeouts in a Triple-A start on July 20. He could be back shortly and should be on your radar.
Clayton Kershaw is 36-years-old and not exactly the same dominant pitcher who went 143-51 with a 2.25 ERA and 0.938 WHIP while winning three Cy Young awards (and 2014 MVP honors) from 2011-19.
When healthy, however, he still is very much fantasy relevant.
He made his long-awaited season debut Thursday after offseason shoulder surgery, allowing two runs on six hits over four innings while striking out six with a 19.4 percent swinging-strike rate.
Rostered in fewer than 50 percent of ESPN leagues, the veteran left-hander should provide plenty of value down the stretch — as long as he stays off the IL.
From 2021-23, Rays lefty Jeffrey Springs was 16-6 with a 2.53 ERA, 10.6 strikeouts per nine and 2.3 walks per nine.
He was 2-0 with a 0.56 ERA, 13.5 strikeouts per nine and a .078 opponents’ average in three starts in 2023 before undergoing Tommy John surgery.
Guess who has struck out 10.1 per nine while walking just 1.6 per nine over 12 minor league starts as he ramps up for a return to the majors?
There is no firm timetable for his return, but the 31-year-old is rostered in fewer than 10 percent of ESPN leagues and should be on your watch list.
Big hits
Taj Bradley SP, Rays
Hasn’t allowed more than two earned runs to score in any of his past nine starts while going 5-1 with a 0.82 ERA, 65 strikeouts, .162 opponents’ average and a 13 percent swinging-strike rate.
Lawrence Butler OF, Athletics
Hit .412 with nine homers, 26 RBIs, 19 runs, three stolen bases, a 1.423 OPS and 20 percent strikeout rate in his first 19 games this month.
Michael Wacha SP, Royals
Hasn’t allowed more than three earned runs in any of his past 11 starts, going 6-2 with a 2.56 ERA and .211 opponents’ average.
Ezequiel Tovar SS, Rockies
Hit .431 with five homers, 12 RBIs, 10 runs and a 1.248 OPS over the 11-game hit streak he took into Friday.
Big whiffs
Ben Rice 1B, Yankees
In his first 13 games since July 6, when he smashed three homers and drove in seven runs against Boston, he went 4-for-46 (.087) with 21 strikeouts and a .443 OPS.
Javier Assad SP, Cubs
Walked eight in his first two starts off the IL and owns a 4.76 ERA, .348 opponents’ average and 11.26 FIP in those outings.
Brandon Nimmo OF, Mets
Struck out 18 times in his previous 45 plate appearances entering Saturday, hitting .083 with one RBI and a .350 OPS.
Evan Phillips RP, Dodgers
Allowed at least one earned run in six of his past 10 appearances with two blown saves, four homers allowed and a .324 opponents’ average.
Check swings
– After completing a no-hitter Thursday, Dylan Cease has allowed just two hits over his past three starts (22 innings) while going 3-0 with a 30-7 strikeout-walk rate, .031 opponents’ average, .187 OPS and a 16 percent swinging-strike rate.
– After hitting .158 with eight homers, 19 RBIs, a 28.7 strikeout rate and .568 OPS over his first 56 games with the Rays, Randy Arozarena hit .284 with seven homers, 18 RBIs, 20 runs, nine stolen bases, a .903 OPS and a 19.6 percent strikeout rate in 44 games before shockingly being traded to the Mariners.
– Gerrit Cole must be happy he won’t see the Mets again this year. He is 0-2 with an 11.17 ERA and 4-6 strikeout-walk rate in two starts. The Amazin’s hit .357 with seven homers and a 1.342 OPS against him.
– Speaking of the Mets: After hitting an ugly .216 with five homers, 24 RBIs and a .591 OPS in the first half, Jeff McNeil hit .417 with four homers, nine RBIs and a 1.423 OPS in his first seven second-half games.
– Francisco Lindor also has been on fire since in his first 59 games as the Mets’ leadoff hitter, going 73-for-241 (.303) with 15 homers, 42 RBIs, 44 runs, 14 stolen bases and a .955 OPS. He hit .305 with nine homers, 22 RBIs and a 1.095 OPS in his first 21 games this month.
– Miami’s Xavier Edwards had at least one hit in 18 of his past 21 games before Friday, hitting .384 with eight RBIs, 12 runs, five stolen bases and a .892 OPS.
– Brent Rooker has raised his average from .261 to .289 after going 27-for-68 (.397) with nine homers, 23 RBIs, 20 runs, four stolen bases, a 14-11 strikeout-walk rate and 1.329 OPS in his first 19 games this month.
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– Tyler Fitzgerald became the first Giants rookie (and first since Barry Bonds) to homer in five consecutive games, and he entered the weekend on a seven-game hit streak. He is batting .393 with nine runs, a stolen base and a 1.571 OPS in his first 10 games this month.
– A.J. Puk was dealt to the Diamondbacks after having not allowed an earned run over his past 14 relief appearances and owning a 25-3 strikeout-walk rate, a .074 average opponents’ average and a 19 percent swinging-strike rate in that span. He is 4-4 with a 2.08 ERA, 9.8 strikeouts per nine and a .159 opponents’ average as a reliever this season. He figures to be the primary lefty setup man in front of closer Paul Sewald.
Team name of the week
A Littell Off the Top
