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

John Maine, easily the Mets’ most impressive pitcher coming out of spring training, will try to get back on track Monday against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Maine is 1-1 with a 3.78 ERA but is unhappy with his control, having given up 12 walks in 16 2/3 innings in three starts. “I don’t know what it is,” Maine said. “I sure hope it will get better. I don’t want to be walking four guys a game. I’ve done a good job of getting out of trouble, but I don’t want to get in it. That’s what walking guys will do.” Maine has allowed only three earned runs in his last 12 2/3 innings and looks like the dominant pitcher from spring training. Maine still remains a No. 3 Fantasy SP in mixed leagues. He should get two starts Fantasy Week 4 (April 21-27) with his second start coming against the Braves. Maine lost to the Braves on April 5 after allowing four runs and eight hits in four innings. (CBS Sports)

Also, MetsBlog.com linked to this little gem:

According to Hollyscoop, Mets RHP John Maine has a crush on Jennifer Aniston, saying:

“I just love her soft and natural, girl-next-door looks and the way she carries herself, her whole demeanor…Oh, yes, the hair.  The hair is unbelievable!  I think she just gets better looking as she gets older.”

…oh, johnny…don’t ever change, buddy…i mean, did he really say, “Oh, yes, the hair.”…dear god, i hope not…nevertheless, i totally understand the crush…who doesn’t…

On what he would do if he meets her, Maine says:

“”I’d probably be so nervous, I would trip over my feet. I guess I would take some pictures with her and give her a hug. Maybe she’ll contact me somehow and it will actually happen. Wow, how cool would that be?”

Umm . . . Okaaaay.

Andruw Jones continues to struggle in his first season with the Dodgers. He went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts on Sunday. Jones is now batting .169 and has 21 strikeouts in 69 plate appearances, an average of one strikeout every 3.3 times he steps into the box. Jones was the big power bat that the Dodgers hoped would rejuvenate this offense, but he has started slow again. Jones reported to camp heavier than ever, and that has to be a concern for a player who is performing much older than his reported age the past few years. He is far less of a must-start Fantasy option at this point than he was in previous year. Bench him for better alternatives in mixed leagues. (CBS Sports)

After going 1-for-10 while struggling defensively in his first three games back from the disabled list, Nomar Garciaparra was benched Sunday in favor of Blake DeWitt. “I don’t think he is where he needs to be yet,” manager Joe Torre said. “I think we still have a little time to evaluate where he is when he gets back to full strength. I’m going to try to get him every opportunity because that’s my job as a manager, to try to get everyone in position where they’re going to help your ball club.” Joe Torre isn’t solid on Garciaparra as an everyday option at third base, but he’ll continue to get at-bats so that he can be evaluated. (Rotoworld)

Cubs OF Matt Murton had two RBI groundouts and one single in six at-bats Sunday against the Pirates. Murton has just one hit in eight at-bats since his recall from Triple-A Iowa. Murton was recalled when Alfonso Soriano went on the DL, and will likely remain with the team as long as Soriano is sidelined. However, he is nothing more than a bench option for Philadelphia and will see limited starts. Consider him a NL-only Fantasy reserve. (CBS Sports)

John Bowker went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run during the Giants’ win over the Cardinals on Sunday. Bowker’s third career home run was off Cardinals SP Braden Looper Sunday to cap a six-run third inning. Bowker is 5-for-15 (.333) with three homers and nine RBI against St. Louis.Bowker was playing right field Sunday, but the Giants plan on giving him plenty of time at first base as well. He won’t keep hitting like this, but that he already has three homers during his first 22 major league at-bats should ensure he receives plenty of playing time. He’s a sleeper in deep fantasy leagues. Bowker probably wishes he could play the Cardinals every day since all three of his career homers have come against St. Louis. Sadly for Fantasy owners, that is not the case. Bowker has been a real pleasant surprise since his recall, but until he starts and produces on a consistent basis, he is nothing more than a low-end Fantasy OF. (Rotowire, CBS Sports)

Chipper Jones left Sunday’s game after five innings due to a strained right quad. It’s what all of the cool third basemen are doing, as within the space of 15 minutes, two of game’s elite third basemen (Chipper and Alex Rodriguez) left with similar injuries. Jones tweaked his right quad on April 9 at Colorado and felt more soreness as the Braves’ road trip continued in Washington. Still, he continued to play and extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a third-inning single before adding a fifth-inning double off the right-field wall. He slid late into second base and was slow to return to his feet. He remained in the game through the inning but was replaced by Martin Prado to start the sixth. He probably won’t miss much time after aggravating it today, but if he can’t play Monday, the Braves can go to Martin Prado at third. After the game, Manager Bobby Cox called Chipper Jones (quad) questionable to play Monday against the Nationals. Cox said the injury is “nothing that’s going to have him out any length at all.” Martin Prado will play if Jones cannot tomorrow. Typical Chipper. He homers twice on back-to-back days Thursday and Friday and then leaves with an injury Sunday. It’s a wonder he managed to hit so well with the sore quadriceps — he was batting .560 (14-for-25) with five home runs over his last six games. He could potentially return to the lineup Monday against the Nationals, especially since he seems adamant about playing 150 games this season, but he’ll more likely have to sit out a day or two to allow his legs time to recover. Keep him active unless you have an especially good backup. (Rotoworld, Rotowire, CBS Sports)

Ryan Theriot continued his hot hitting by going 4-for-5 against the Pirates on Sunday. Theriot also walked once while doubling twice and singling twice. The shortstop also scored three times, drove in two runs, and stole a base to complete an excellent day at the plate. Theriot extended his hitting streak to seven games. He is hitting .484 (15-for-31) with one homer, four RBI and six multi-hit games in that span. He certainly is enjoying life this season hitting in front of Derrek Lee. Theriot is hitting .338 and has scored 14 times. Theriot only hit three homers last season and is not on Fantasy teams for his power capability. But he can hit for a decent average and swipe some bases. He is best used in NL-only and Rotisserie Fantasy leagues.Theriot’s job is secure for the foreseeable future. He should be a good source of steals and runs from a middle infield slot.(Rotoworld, Rotowire, CBS Sports)

Mark Teixeira went 3-for-4 with a homer and three RBI as the Braves topped the Dodgers 6-1 on Sunday. Texieira hit a two-run shot off reliever Scott Proctor while also singling twice and walking once. The first basemen has been known to start slow, but his four homers and 12 RBI already qualify this April as his second best in six seasons in the majors. When Teixeira heats up, he’s a sight to behold. He has the potential to hit .300 with 40 home runs, and he looks ready to gain some ground on those projections. Get him active if you’re part of the three percent of Fantasy owners who somehow found reason to bench him. (Rotoworld, CBS Sports)

Zach Duke was lit up for eight hits and two walks in four innings Sunday afternoon against the Cubs. He also hit two batters in a 13-6 loss. He was actually fortunate to limit Chicago to five runs, as the Cubs stranded seven runners. Duke was unable to help halt a four-game losing streak and his defense, which has committed at least one error in 16 of 18 contests, played down to its typical level with two miscues. Duke failed to notch a strikeout, but Sunday’s loss was a total team effort. (Rotowire)

Carlos Villanueva will remain in the rotation, even with Yovani Gallardo returning from the DL on Sunday. It’ll be David Bush and not Villanueva or Manny Parra moving to the bullpen. If Ben Sheets can’t make his scheduled start on Wednesday, Bush would get the spot start, the Brewers’ telecast reported on Sunday. (Rotowire)

Overall Standings

Rank Team                Batting Pitching Total Dif   Behind
---- ------------------- ------- -------- ----- ----- ------
 1   Shoeless Jews       45.0    27.5     72.5  7.0   0.0
 2   Goodfellas          30.0    41.5     71.5  0.0   1.0
 3   The Pi Train        31.0    35.5     66.5  0.5   6.0
 4   X-Men               24.5    37.0     61.5  1.5   11.0
 5   Atomic Roadrunners  24.0    30.0     54.0  5.5   18.5
 6   Misogynistic Padres 34.0    17.0     51.0  -2.0  21.5
 7   Get Off Kong!       24.0    26.5     50.5  6.5   22.0
 8   Uncle Lester        11.0    34.5     45.5  -5.5  27.0
 9   Stanimals           29.5    14.5     44.0  -2.5  28.5
 10  Cover Zero          22.0    11.0     33.0  -11.0 39.5  

Yesterday's Stats

Atomic Roadrunners Players Yesterday (4/20/08)
Player                        BA HR R RBI   SB
------------------------- ------ -- - --- ----
Barton, Brian OF STL      0.0000  0 0   0    0
Bowker, John OF SF        0.2000  1 1   2    0
Dewitt, Blake 3B LA       0.2500  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     0.6667  0 0   0    0
Phillips, Brandon 2B CIN  0.2000  0 0   0    0
Reyes, Jose B. SS NYM     0.4000  0 1   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     0.7500  1 1   3    0
Theriot, Ryan SS CHC      0.8000  0 3   2    1
Valentin, Javier C CIN    0.0000  0 0   0    0

Atomic Roadrunners Players Yesterday (4/20/08)
Player                       ERA  K S   W WHIP
------------------------- ------ -- - --- ----
-no pitchers played-