Atomic RoadRunners | Andrew Flynn’s High-Energy Fantasy Baseball

It’s going to be easier to determine the first cut of the year for the FAAB Fairy.  Possibly Phillies #5 starter (and steroid guilty-sign holder) Ryan Franklin will most likely start the season in the Phillies bullpen, as a strong spring has secured the rotation spot for Gavin Floyd.  Franklin had a 3.57 ERA this spring, but Clearwater might be the most friendly park he’ll appear in for some time.

From Baseball Prospectus 2006:

Flyball pitchers with low stikeout rates face long enough odds in the big leagues.  First thy have to hope for a home park that turns flyballs into long outs instead of homers.  They also need pinpoint control to prevent extra baserunners, minimizing the damage when they serve up a cookie . . . and they need luck and good defense to mitigate all the batters who don’t strike out and instead put the ball in play . . .  Wisely non-tendered by Seattle, Franklin signed with Philadelphia.  Avert your eyes. 

Well, first things first - I updated the AaRr post-draft rosters with internal moves. These moves have to be in by Monday at Noon Eastern, but I’ve already massaged them twice.

First, I brought up minor league studs Prince Fielder and Ryan Zimmerman, to 1B and 3B, respectively. Due to the Wily Mo Pena trade, Adam Dunn is going to be an outfielder all season, so four months of penciling him in as a 1B since the Sean Casey trade were for naught. Which is fine, actually, as I had strength at the corners and a weak OF. So Dunn moves to OF, and I have a choice on who to send down from that stellar group.

It’s been an odd mix in the OF this spring training, as I essentially cornered the market in 4th OF’s:

• Victor Diaz (acquired in a trade from X-Men), loses his starting RF slot to Xavier Nady*
• Brandon Watson is an OF that might be helpful**
• Shane Victorino has 20/20 potential, if he could play every day.

That’s not to mention the other fouth outfielders grabbed in the minor league rounds:

• Jeff DaVanon, Diamondbacks
• Matt Diaz, Braves
• Ben Johnson, Padres***

* - but, as predicted, Nady starts off fast, and then cools down. Last year, he grabbed the starting spot at 1B out of spring training (with an injured Nevin) and cooled off after May. This year, he was red-hot, but is since 1-for-28. Victor Diaz has shown more consistency - I’m not worried yet.

** - Brandon Watson has since been installed as the starting CF and leadoff hitter by that kooky Odd Couple that is Jim Bowden and Frank Robinson. Hey, I’m all for my guys playing, but sending down Ryan Church, while keeping Michael Tucker, Marlon Byrd, and six other re-treads just isn’t right. (Re-treads: Robert Fick, Marlon Anderson, Damian Jackson, Matt LeCroy, Daryle Ward, and a better-than-Christian-Guzman-but-otherwise-still-sucks- Royce Clayton).

*** - Okay, he’s a 5th OF, but he’s “got upside” and the Angels were interested in trading for him as recently as a few days ago.

So right now it looks like either Victorino or V. Diaz will be sent down for opening day - we’ll have to monitor lineups and injuries over the next few days.

The other maneuver is to determine who will be the CM. I drafted Rich Aurilia (who will likely be able to fill in at all MI and CM spots at some point) for $1, and a future-watch pick of the Padres’ Adrian Gonzalez, the former #1 overall pick in 2000 by the Marlins. Gonzalez was originally supposed to be sent down to Portland (AAA) to start the season, but with Softball’s balky shoulder, and a Gonzalez hot streak, it looks like Adrian might get the call.

And of course Kerry Wood was placed on the 15-Day DL due to his knee surgery from early March, and is expected back by May 1. I don’t like my options for a Wood replacement so far, so we’ll see what the FAAB fairy brings us.