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

Dear ESPN Answer Guys,

I’m in a 10-team NL-only 5×5 Auction league with protected lists due Feb 1st.  We’re allowed up to 15 protections, and while I have decent starters protectable (Webb $25, Lincecum $7, Maine $5), the only closerI have is Brian Wilson for $10.

Will he be the closer in SF?  Will he earn at least $10?

Answer Guys:

Wilson will be the closer in San Francisco and will get 30-35 saves.  I would keep him at that price.

Shawn (CDub)

Dear ESPN Answer Guys,

Looking for a Ryan Theriot recommendation:

10-team $260 5×5 NL-only keeper league, with maximum 15 protections possible. At Middle Infield, I already am protecting Jose Reyes ($38) and Brandon Phillips ($16).  I can also protect Ryan Theriot for $1.

I am an admittedly poor drafter, but am good with FAAB, reserves and trades.  Should I take MI out of draft consideration (obviously I’d still do my homework) by locking in Theriot (and his 20+ steals) for $1?

Theriot would be my last guy in, so this isn’t make-or-break, but is he worth the $1 or is the Cubs’ situation too muddy right now?  I also have Victorino ($1) and Corey Hart ($7), so I’m okay with SB (won by 40 SB last year, even after trading away steals).

Protected rosters are due in a month.

Answer Guys: 

Theriot will get enough at bats to make him worth much more than $1 in a
NL only league.  Keep him.

Shawn (CDub)

It’s time to say farewell to those 2007 Atomic Roadrunners that aren’t eligible for protection for the 2008 season:

Brandon Backe:  P, Houston. Picked up after a good return performance from surgery, Backe was a $0 FAAB player signed September 4th and helped play out the string.

Kevin Correia:  P, San Francisco.  Correia was a $2 FAAB pickup on June 5th when the Giants were uncertain of who their closer would be.  Eventually they settled on Brad Hennessey, whom was FAAB’d for $33.  Correia was released by AaRr July 3rd, but was re-acquired on a $0 FAAB bid to play out the string on September 4th.

Octavio Dotel:  P, Atlanta.  Hoping to secure the next Atlanta closer, Dotel was a $0 FAAB pickup on August 7th, but he only pitched 3 innings before going on the DL.

Tadahito Iguchi:  2B, Philadelphia.  Iguchi was nabbed from the White Sox at the deadline to cover for the injured Chase Utley, and did quite well, hitting .304 with 6 steals, 3 HR, 12 RBI and 22 runs in just over a month.  Nice little firecracker.  AaRr acquired him July 31st with a $20 FAAB bid.

Jason Lane:  OF, San Diego. Formerly good in Houston, but that was 2005 (when he had 26 HR).  Lane was merely OF filler in the final week (a $0 FAAB pickup September 25th), having been picked up after the Padres lost both Mike Cameron and Milton Bradley for the season in consecutive innings.  Lane never started, despite the OF openings.

Scott Linebrink:  P, Milwaukee.  Linebrink was the top set-up man to Trevor Hoffman last season, before Cla Merediths’ rise.  Drafted for $6, he was traded for three P prospects, including Wil Inman in July.  No longer in line for saves, he was released by AaRr July 31st, but was re-acquired with a $0 FAAB bid August 14th, on speculation that we would sign as a front-line closer as a free agent in the 2007-08 offseason.  He signed November 22nd with the Chicago White Sox to set up Bobby Jenks.

Steven Pearce:  OF/1B, Pittsburgh.  Pearce was picked up with a $0 FAAB bid on September 11th, and he did an admirable job for the Roadrunners as a rookie.  He hit .294 with 2 steals, 6 RBI and 13 Runs in a few weeks’ worth of games.