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

Here are the updated stats of the three Atomic Roadrunners at AAA:

Player          AVG   R    HR    RBI    SB    OPS
-------------------------------------------------
Chase Headley   .200  2     0     1      0   .561
Matt Murton     .333  1     0     0      1   .777
Steve Pearce    .190  0     0     2      0   .547

Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin gave Brandon Lyon, who has blown two save opportunities, a vote of confidence on Monday. “A couple of outings isn’t going to take away from the fact that this is a guy we expect to pitch the ninth inning for us. That’s the way it remains right now,” Melvin said. Both Melvin and GM Josh Byrnes cited the fact that Lyon is an established shut-down reliever and they feel that he’ll be able to right the ship sooner rather than later. Tony Pena and Chad Qualls are waiting in the wings if Lyon is unable to pull it together, and Pena remains one of the best investments for long-term saves in the NL. (Rotoworld, Rotowire)

Giants closer Brian Wilson, who had only appeared in one game with his team struggling, got some work in Monday against the Padres. He allowed two runs, though, in two-thirds of an inning, giving up three hits and a walk. Wilson, like many closers, pitched poorly when the game wasn’t on the line. He is the uncontested stopper in San Francisco, but unfortunately the lowly Giants probably won’t offer him too many save chances this year. He is a No. 3 Fantasy closer at best. (CBS Sports)

Braves 3B Chipper Jones doubled home the Braves’ only run Monday at Colorado, giving him his first two-bagger of the year. He finished 1-for-4 and has hit safely in six of Atlanta’s first seven games this season. Jones, who has struggled with injuries over the last few years, has vowed to play 150 games this year, and if he does, he’ll put up MVP-type numbers. Even if he falls short of his goal, his .337 batting average and 29 homers last year shows he should still serve as a starting Fantasy 3B. (CBS Sports)

Cubs starter Jon Lieber made his second appearance of the season in Monday’s extra-inning win at Pittsburgh. He pitched three inning and allowed just two hits. He did not allow a run and struck out two batters with two walks. Lieber took a loss in his only other appearance of the season, so this outing makes up for it. His role as a long-reliever out of the Cubs bullpen to open the season limits his appeal in Fantasy leagues, but he could be used for spot starts throughout the season. (CBS Sports)

Phillies 3B Greg Dobbs got into Monday’s game against the Reds as a pinch hitter. He hit for Cole Hamels in the eighth inning, but grounded out in his lone at-bat. He left a runner on base while seeing his average drop to .111 (1-for-9). Dobbs has made just one start this season for the Phillies and has appeared four times as a pinch hitter. He is a backup corner infielder, and as long as Ryan Howard and Pedro Feliz stay healthy, Dobbs will remain in that role. He is nothing more than an NL-only Fantasy option. (CBS Sports)

Reds C Javier Valentin (hamstring) made a pinch-hit appearance and struck out looking to end the game Monday as Cincinnati fell 5-3 to the Phillies. There were two runners on base when Valentin went down. Valentin hadn’t played since injuring his left hamstring on Friday. He might get back behind the plate on Tuesday. Valentin has some decent power, but he wasn’t really viable in mixed leagues even while starting for David Ross. He remains day to day and is only worth a look in deeper in NL-only play when healthy. (CBS Sports, Rotoworld)

Andruw Jones was 0-for-4 (all with runners on base) with a pair of strikeouts Monday and is now batting just .115 with an 8:2 K:BB in 26 at-bats. Jones actually had his best month in terms of OPS (tied) last year in April, so we can’t really say he’s a slow starter. He should heat up eventually, but it had better happen soon for the punchless Dodgers. (Rotowire)

Jones is hitless in his past 12 at-bats, with six strikeouts. “He is just over-trying,” hitting coach Mike Easler said. “He has been practicing great. He came out early the last couple of days. He knows exactly what he is doing. His (back) shoulder is dropping, which is causing his front shoulder to fly, so he is kind of winging it. He just needs to get that one hit, hit that one ball up the middle, and I think he’ll be fine.” For now, he is anything but fine. (CBS Sports)

Overall Standings

Rank Team                Batting Pitching Total Dif  Behind
---- ------------------- ------- -------- ----- ---- ------
1   Goodfellas          35.5    41.5     77.0  77.0 0.0
2   Shoeless Jews       31.0    33.5     64.5  64.5 12.5
3   X-Men               22.5    39.0     61.5  61.5 15.5
4   Misogynistic Padres 43.0    18.0     61.0  61.0 16.0
5   Uncle Lester        18.5    39.5     58.0  58.0 19.0
6   The Pi Train        27.5    30.0     57.5  57.5 19.5
7   Stanimals           36.0    12.0     48.0  48.0 29.0
8   Cover Zero          27.0    19.5     46.5  46.5 30.5
9   Get Off Kong!       15.5    23.0     38.5  38.5 38.5
10  Atomic Roadrunners  18.5    19.0     37.5  37.5 39.5

Yesterday's Stats

Atomic Roadrunners Players Yesterday (4/7/08) F
Player                        BA HR R RBI   SB
------------------------- ------ -- - --- ----
Davis, Rajai OF SF        0.0000  0 0   0    0
Dewitt, Blake 3B LA       0.0000  0 0   0    0
Fielder, Prince 1B MIL    0.0000  0 0   0    0
Hart, Corey C. RF MIL     0.0000  0 0   0    0
Jones, Andruw CF LA       0.0000  0 0   0    0
Jones, Chipper 3B ATL     0.2500  0 0   1    0
Phillips, Brandon 2B CIN  0.2500  0 0   1    1
Reyes, Jose B. SS NYM     0.0000  0 0   0    0
Ruiz, Carlos C PHI        0.0000  0 0   0    0
Spilborghs, Ryan CF COL   0.0000  0 0   0    0
Teixeira, Mark 1B ATL     0.0000  0 0   0    0
Theriot, Ryan SS CHC      0.0000  0 1   0    2
Valentin, Javier C CIN    0.0000  0 0   0    0
Victorino, Shane CF PHI   0.2000  0 0   0    0

Player                       ERA  K S   W WHIP
------------------------- ------ -- - --- ----
Wilson, Brian RP SF        27.00  0 0   0 6.00