Atomic RoadRunners

2008 Season – Atlanta Braves

Tag: Chuck James
Salary: $5
Contract: One Year Remaining
Acquired: Protected from 2007
Departed: Released May 20, 2008

Notes:
Chuck James was protected from 2007, but it was an iffy proposition – in fact, he was labeled a “fringe” protection by your’s truly. He had a “dead arm” phase towards the end of 2007, but since the same thing happened in 2006, I figured it might work out again. James really regressed and was injured for much of 2008. He opened the year on the DL with a partial rotator cuff tear (which was announced after protected lists were submitted). Then James filled in for an injured (shocker) Mike Hampton, but then sent him back down to AAA to knock off the rust. Two more up-and-downs from AAA, and he wasn’t active again after May. Eventually he had surgery on the rotator cuff and torn labrum in September.

2007 Season – Atlanta Braves

Salary: $5
Contract: Two Years Remaining
Acquired: Protected from 2006
Departed: Protected for 2008

Notes:
Chuck James had a rotation spot sewn up for 2007, but actually regressed a bit from his dynamite performance as a rookie in 2006. Towards the end of the season, he experienced another “dead arm” period, but this time he was placed on the DL for 15 days at the end of August. He gave up more homers than in 2006, and also was fatigued later into games, averaging just over 5 innings per outing.

2006 Season – Atlanta Braves

Salary: $5 (was a 9th-round minor league draft pick by X-Men, and was released May 9th, 2006)
Contract: One Year, Two Years Remaining
Acquired: FAAB Acquisition, June 13, 2006 ($3 bid, Reserve)
Departed: Protected for 2007

Notes:
Both Alex Tava of X-Men and I had been watching Chuck James since mid-2005, when we both bid the same amount for him in FAAB. James was picked up and was pretty dominant in stretches, with high strikeout performances mixed with some gopher balls and some unfortunate walks. He was sent down to AAA in early 2006, but was called up to stay in June. He came on strong down the stretch, going nine starts in August and September without a loss, including 6 wins in seven starts and a one-hitter.

2008 Season – Atlanta Braves

Tag: Tommy Hanson
Salary: $5 (automatic)
Contract: Three Years Remaining (protectable in minors)
Acquired: FAAB Acquisition July 1, 2008 ($3, Reserve)
Departed: Released July 17th, 2008

Notes:
Hanson was picked up before the minor league protection deadline, and was a hot prospect because of a no-hitter the week before at AA. Then a few iffy outings and some negative reviews online took the shine off, so he was released. Hason could be the Tim Lincecum of 2006 – picked up in the minors, then released, and then I spend all offseason kicking myself for it. Hanson is viewed as one of the elite minor league pitching prospects, and is “untouchable” in Jake Peavy trade talks between the Braves and Padres. Stupid, stupid, stupid . . . and Jaime Garcia was picked up in his place!

2008 Season – Cincinnati Reds

Tag: Jared Burton
Salary: $5 (automatic)
Contract: One Year, Two Remaining
Acquired: FAAB Acquisition July 1, 2008 ($2, Reserve)
Departed: Released July 22nd, 2008

Notes:
Looking to add a low-WHIP reliever, Burton was added to the roster after a solid first half. At the time, he was 4-1 with a 2.23 earned run average in 43 games, and was the set-up guy for closer Francisco Cordero. Unfortunately, the instant he hit the Roadrunners’ roster, he fell apart – literally. First he missed a series with a strained lat, which healed over the All-Star break. Then he was placed on the DL July 20th for a strained shoulder, eventually missing six weeks.

2008 Season – Milwaukee Brewers

Tag: Seth McClung
Salary: $6
Contract: One Year, Two Remaining
Acquired: FAAB Acquisition June 17, 2008 ($6, Active)
Departed: Released August 19, 2008

Notes:
McClung started the season as a long-reliever for the Brewers, but was pressed into the rotation due to injuries. His first outings as a starter were solid, and then-manager Ned Yost organized a home-away 5th starter platoon with Dave Bush. McClung would start on the road, where Bush was 1-6, with 6.95 ERA away from Milwaukee. In August everyone came to their senses and realized McClung was just a decent reliever.

2008 Season – Washington Nationals

Tag: Jason Bergmann
Salary: $10 (selected in 4th Round of minor league draft by Misogynistic Padres, and released May 6th)
Contract: One Year, Two Remaining
Acquired: FAAB Acquisition May 20, 2008 ($2, Active)
Departed: Released August 19, 2008

Notes:
Bergmann had outstanding results in spotty patches, and was actually sent down to AAA after failing to secure a rotation spot out of spring training. Recalled at the end of April, he did well, but never got any run support from the lowly Nationals. As the temperature got warmer, Bergmann see-sawed between good outings without a win, to getting shelled. Bergmann headlines on this site include:

• Bergmann Finally Pitches Well, Still Doesn’t Get Win
• Bergmann Finally Puts Together A Nice Little Outing
• Hard-Luck Bergmann Gets Another No-Decision
• Bergmann’s Bell Rung on Independence Day
• Bergmann Solid Again Without Run Support
• Bergmann Gives Up Three Taters in Loss to Giants
• Bergmann King of No Run Support
• Bergmann No-Decision “Exhibit A” of Nationals’ Suckitude
• Bergmann Gets First Win in Nearly Three Months
• Bergmann Doused in Sulphur, Spontaneously Combusts

2008 Season – Milwaukee Brewers

Tag: Carlos Villanueva
Salary: $3
Contract: One Year, Two Remaining
Acquired: 2008 Auction
Departed: Released August 26, 2008

Notes:
Villanueva was drafted when it looked like he had a Brewers rotation spot lined up, though that ended up going to the erratic Manny Parra. Villanueva became a pretty good swingman, but that really didn’t benefit the Roadrunners any. When an emergency starter was needed, reliever Seth McClung got the call for a month, so Villanueva looks entrenched in the bullpen for 2009. Looking at the stats below, he was clearly better in relief, and clearly better when not on my active roster.

2008 Season – Atlanta Braves

Tag: Charlie Morton
Salary: $9
Contract: One Year, Two Remaining
Acquired: FAAB Acquisition, June 17, 2008 ($9 bid, Active)
Departed: Released August 26, 2008

Notes:
Morton was another wobby young Braves starter employed by the Roadrunners in 2008. He won his major-league debut against the Angels, and was a third-round pick in the 2002 draft. He was 5-2 with a 2.05 ERA in his first season at Triple-A Richmond and didn’t allow a home run in his 79 innings. However, he was over-matched in the big leagues, and his control was a problem. He’ll probably open 2009 at AAA, though he’s been mentioned in Jake Peavy-to-the-Braves trade talks.
Morton headlines on this site include:

• Morton Fights Rangers, Flu, 3 Errors in Loss
• Morton Tries Adversity – Tastes Like Fail
• Morton Stinks it Up, but Braves Come Back to Win in 17
• Morton Wins Using Smoke, Mirrors
• Morton – At Least He’s Consistent
• Morton Demolished By Cardinals
• Morton Battered Like a Pinata by Cubs
• Morton Still Winless at Home
• Morton Placed on Pyre, Lit With Flaming Arrow

2008 Season – St. Louis Cardinals

Tag: Jaime Garcia
Salary: $7
Contract: One Year, Two Remaining
Acquired: FAAB Acquisition, July 17, 2008 ($7 bid, Active)
Departed: Released September 16, 2008

Notes:
Garcia was rated as the top starting pitching prospect for the Cardinals for the past two seasons (since the flameout of Anthony Reyes). 22nd-Round draft pick in 2005, and had dominating stuff in 2006, but has had some elbow problems in the past. Called up in mid-July to fill in a bullpen role, did well in a spot start, and bounced back and forth between St. Louis and AAA Memphis for most of August. Ended up having Tommy John surgery September 10th, and will miss all of 2009.

2008 Season – Atlanta Braves

Tag: James Parr
Salary: $5 (automatic)
Contract: One Year, Expiring
Acquired: FAAB Acquisition, September 16, 2008 ($0 bid, Reserve)
Departed: Released September 23, 2008

Notes:
Parr was yet another an up-and-coming, yet low-ceilinged Braves starter. His first two outings were stellar (but were against Colorado and Washington), and the three playoff contenders he faced next (Phillies, Mets, Astros) teed off on his AAA stuff. 5-3 with a 3.23 ERA with Richmond, going 3-0 with a 0.96 ERA in his last three starts. Was Called up September 2nd, MLB debut on September 4th. Never activated for Roadrunners.

2008 Season – Arizona Diamondbacks

Tag: Tony Pena
Salary: $3

Contract: First Year, Two Remaining

Acquired: 2008 Auction

Departed: Not Protected for 2009

Notes:
Handcuff selection, as Brandon Lyon was already on roster. Faltered a bit after a very good 2007, and missed opportunities to emerge as the closer with Brandon Lyon’s struggles, to both Jon Rauch and Chad Qualls. Will likely be set-up man for the D-Backs in 2009, especially since Arizona is likely to lose Juan Cruz via free agency. Pena will also remain in the mix for the closer’s role, and he could be given a chance to compete for the job during spring training.

2007 Season – Arizona Diamondbacks

Tag: Tony Pena
Salary: $5

Contract: First Year, Two Remaining

Acquired: 2007 Minor League Draft – 7th Round selection

Departed: Released April 10th, 2007. Re-acquired August 28th, 2007 ($0 FAAB Bid). Released September 4th, 2007

Notes:
Intriguing reliever – never got a chance to become the closer.  I dropped him when Brandon Lyon won the closer job – straight-up transaction. Never activated by RoadRunners. Acquired by Get Off Kong! on May 22nd, then released the next week May 29th.  Then acquired by The Pi Train on June 26th, and was active until August 18th. Solid numbers, however.  Here’s what Baseball Prospectus said of his 2007:

Along with Doug Slaten, Pena was the NL West champions’ cleaner, the guy who inherited ugly situations and fixed them. That was all the more impressive given how close he was to not even having a career under his pre-Age-gate nomme de mound, Adriano Rosario. Is it ironic given the other Tony Penas running around out there, that this one’s found a home in the equally nondescript realm of middle relief only after reverting to that name? If so, the irony might not last; Pena’s hard heat and solid slider make him the best closer candidate of all of the guys who were knocking around in front of Jose Valverde before the closer was dealt to Houston.

2008 Season – San Francisco Giants

Tag: Noah Lowry
Salary: $1 (drafted by Misogynistic Padres 2008)
Contract: First Year, Two Remaining
Acquired: FAAB Acquisition, August 19, 2008 ($0 bid, Reserve).
Departed: Protectable for 2009

Notes:
Gambit pickup in case he returns to full health. Former 14-game winner. Did not pitch in 2008. Had arthroscopic surgery after the 2008 season on the back of his pitching elbow to remove bone spurs. He spent the entire season rehabilitating from a March 7 operation to repair a rare nerve problem in his forearm called exertional compartment syndrome. Unable to participate in winter ball or instructional league due to second surgery. Big question mark entering 2009, but will likely pitch at some point.

2008 Season – New York Mets

Tag: Luis Ayala

Salary: $5 (automatic)

Contract: One Year, Expiring

Acquired: FAAB Acquisition, August 26, 2008 ($0 bid, Activate)

Departed: Not protectable, signed after deadline

Notes:
Volatile middle reliever for Washington, who was traded to the Mets August 24th after a Billy Wagner elbow injury. Had a rough ride as the Mets tried to win the NL East and/or Wild Card in September but failed. Did add 8 Saves to the Roadrunner total to ensure 2nd place in that category. Is a free agent after the 2008 season.

2003 Season – Montreal Expos

Tag: Luis Ayala

Salary: $5 (automatic)

Contract: First Year, Two Remaining

Acquired: FAAB Acquisition, May 27th, 2003 ($5 bid, Activate)

Departed: Released July 8th, 2003

Notes:
Rookie reliever for Montreal.  Had several wins when picked up. Made the team out of Spring Training, and became the 7th and 8th Inning guy, setting up closer Rocky Biddle, and sometimes oft-injured T.J. Tucker and lefty specialist Joey Eischen. Had the second-most games-finished on the team with 24 (Biddle had 56).