Esmil Rogers' return to the starting rotation has been a success so far, with his last two starts in particular attracting the attention of Fantasy owners, but judging by his numbers with the Rockies earlier in his career, it has to be smoke and mirrors, right?
I wouldn't be so sure. Any pitcher who throws 95-plus miles per hour and commands the strike zone has a chance to be successful, but the aspect of Rogers' arsenal that intrigues me the most is the same one " data-canon="Toronto Blue Jays" data-type="SPORTS_OBJECT_TEAM" id="shortcode0"> players and coaches keep raving about: the sink on his fastball.
Everyone knows batted balls travel farther in the thin air of Coors Field, but that's not the only reason it's a hitter's haven. The high altitude also reduces the movement on pitches, making sinking fastballs straight and hittable. Mike Hampton tried changing his arm slot to compensate for his loss of movement after signing with the Rockies in 2001, and we all know how that turned out.
Who's to say Rogers didn't get in some bad habits of his own while pitching for the Rockies? His stuff suggests he's better than his numbers. I'm not saying I'm ready to shove him in my lineup or anything, but I'm intrigued.