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On any of your fantasy teams, trade him.

Right now.

His value isn’t going to get much higher than it is, after throwing a complete game this afternoon giving up just six hits and one run despite striking out just two.

In 193.1 IP last year, Blackburn recorded just 96 strikeouts with a 4.05 ERA and a 1.36 WHIP. This year, Blackburn’s K rate is even lower, at a paltry 3.57 K/9, which includes today’s start.

Blackburn has benefited from a better-than average BABIP, which stood at .278 before today’s game compared to last season’s .308 BABIP. And he’s walking more hitters too. After walking just 39 last year, Blackburn has walked 25 people this season after walking just 39 in 2008.

Maybe you can unload him on a not-so-sabermetric leaning owner who will be fooled by his 3.09 ERA and six victories. That’s certainly what I’ve been trying to do.

Arizona Diamondback fans and Webb owners are sucking in their collective breaths:

Webb began feeling soreness behind the shoulder during Monday’s season-opening, 9-8 victory over the Colorado Rockies after getting roughed up in the third inning. He said it didn’t bother him the next day, when he played catch. But it stiffened on him overnight, and Webb alerted manager Bob Melvin and the team’s medical staff upon arriving at Chase Field on Wednesday.

“I’m going to make sure I take care of this early on,” Melvin said. ” . . . The training staff will work diligently on him the next few days, and hopefully that’s all it is.” Webb, who lasted just four innings Monday and allowed six runs, was to be examined by team physician Michael Lee. Melvin said the team likely will wait to see how Webb’s shoulder feels today before scheduling any tests, such as an MRI exam.

Go ahead and schedule the MRI, for f%ckssake. Why leave even a shred of doubt?

That would be pitchers he has identified as being at signficant risk for injury, breakdown, and/or regression due to their jump in innings the prior season. This year’s list is replete with names well known, and, as it turns out, littered on my two fantasy rosters. I hope Verducci is dead wrong, but there are some warning signs to worry about. The list:

1. Jon Lester
2. Cole Hamels
3. Chad Billiingsley
4. Tim Lincecum
5. Clayton Kershaw
6. Dana Eveland
7. Mike Pelfrey
8.John Danks
9. Jair Jurrjens
10. Jon Niese

His rate from the previous three years of the list? Too good for comfort:

How much should those guys be worried? Over the previous three years I red-flagged a total of 24 young pitchers at the start of those seasons. Of those 24 at-risk pitchers, 16 were hurt in that same season. Only one of the 24 pitchers managed to stay healthy and lower his ERA: Ubaldo Jimenez of Colorado, a guy I said would be less at risk because of his powerful body type.

Now, I don’t know what he means by “hurt” to move into the “told you so” category, but the concept of managing a pitcher’s innings load in a reasonably increasing way is not new, and there is data out there independent from this that suggests this kind of list is worth paying attention to. Shockingly, neither Ednison Volquez nor Johnny Cueto of the Reds is on it, so perhaps the Reds did something right last year. Perhaps.

Quoth Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi about Ryan’s hold on the closer’s job:

“I think a lot was made of the velocity as opposed to the results,” Ricciardi said. “The closer, it’s more about the results than the velocity at some points. Obviously, listen, if we get to a point where we have to make an adjustment, we’ll have to make an adjustment. But right now, there’s no reason for us to think that he can’t close.“

Yeah. Back the f*ck off, Scott Downs. And all you Scott Downs prospecting motherf*ckers.

…stop reading this and go pick him up right now if you need saves:

“Its been a battle, doing all this different treatment just to feel moderately OK,” Devine said. “I felt like I was pitching at 80 percent and something was grabbing in there.” Exploratory surgery is a possible option. Should Devine have a ligament problem that requires surgery, he would be out at least a year.

Also, apparently BJ Ryan is only hitting the mid-80s on the radar gun, so Scott Downs may be in line for some saves in Toronto. Just don’t blame me when Ziegler and Downs give up five run ninth innings on opening day. I’ll be there grieving with you; I’ve already picked them up.

—The closing job for the Cubs goes to Kevin Gregg.

—The closing job in Seattle goes to Brandon Morrow. When camp started he was slated for the rotation, and ends up in the back of the pen. If you drafted him, congrats on backing into some bonus saves. While we’re looking in on Seattle, if you were counting on Jeff Clement to help your fantasy team’s catching to start the year, you will have to wait. He’s heading back to AAA. Why? Because the Mariners hate your fantasy needs.

—Lance Berkman has a sore shoulder. That is causing the Astros beat writer for the Chronicle some concern.

—Features of the house that Jeter built

—Travis Hafner thinks his shoulder is fixed. Perhaps. His numbers this spring still suck.

I don’t know. But I am drafting in a traditional fantasy league on Saturday that counts saves, so it’s time to find out. Luckily, rotoauthority.com is on the case with a handy rundown of the closing situations o’er the major league land. First thought on glancing over the list? There are a LOT of unsettled closing situations for this time of the spring. Second thought upon glancing over the list? David Aardsma is line for saves? It’s like what goes on in Seattle stays in Seattle at this point.

The Baseball Prospectus Annual has become a must read in quick order for any baseball fan. Even if you do not participate in a fantasy league, the writing and analysis in and of itself is worth the $15 – $21 (depending on where you order it from). Today’s bit of goodness? The Jon Lieber section:

“As fun as it is to remember when Lieber was stolen from the Pirates for Brant Brown – the “outfielder” who gave us Ron Santo’s famous shriek of “Oh noooo!” – that was 10 years ago. Lieber no longer has the ability to fool enough people on the right often enough to have a future in talk radio, and he fools those on the left less often thatn Bill O’Reilly. A free agent, he’ll go wherever desperation cries our for succor and give it his best shot.”

Quality.