Daily blurb
Are you ready for some football?

When Cole Hamels emerged on the MLB scene several years ago, he was a perennial “gots to have” pitcher in all fantasy formats. Coming off a 2008 season with 14 wins, a 3.09 ERA and a 1.08 WHIP, he seemed to be poised to move to the elite level. In the 2009 RIBC drafts, he was the consensus 4th starting pitcher drafted. But he took a step back in 2009 (10 wins, 4.32 ERA, 1.29 WHIP), and was only the 18th pitcher drafted in the RIBC drafts last spring.

It looks like 2009 may have been the aberration. Laboring in the shadows of Roy Halladay this season, he’s putting together a 2008-like season once again, with a 3.06 ERA, a WHIP of 1.16, and a strikeout per inning. (His post-ASB record is even more dominant – 2.01 ERA, 0.92 WHIP, and a .200 BAA.) His 10-10 W-L record is disappointing (and only 3-3 since the break), but that’s mostly a result of a lack of run support. Last night, the Phillies reversed course and staked him to a 10-0 lead through seven innings. He needed most of those runs, too, as the bullpen came in to allow 6 runs in the 8th.

Ryan Palmer is the popular favorite in GuruGolf this week, owing as much to his lower-than-average price as to his recent prowess. These final two GuruGolf events will not offer a cut after the 2nd round, but they will favor those teams who have amassed enough funds to be able to afford some higher priced golfers – unless, of course, the cheaper golfers dominate.